Which region’s superior facets face backwards, upwards, medial?

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The way the facet joints are oriented differs by spinal region and that orientation shapes how the vertebrae can move. In the cervical region, the superior articular facets are directed backward (posteriorly), upward (superiorly), and toward the midline (medially). This arrangement lets the neck glide through a wide range of movements—flexion, extension, side bending, and especially rotation—because the joints guide the motion in those directions. This contrasts with other regions where the facet orientation favors different motions (for example, more rotation restraint in the lumbar area). So, the cervical region has superior facets facing backwards, upwards, and medially.