The articular process or zygapophysis (Greek: ζυγόν, romanized: zugón, lit.

The actual region of contact is called the articular facet.

[1] Articular processes spring from the junctions of the pedicles and laminæ, and there are two right and left, and two superior and inferior.

These are the bony surfaces palpated just lateral to the spinous processes.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 97 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)