Thoracic Vertebrae

Original Editor - Samson Chengetanai

Lead Editors - Admin, Kim Jackson, Evan Thomas, George Prudden, Joao Costa, Lucinda hampton and 127.0.0.1

Clinically Relevant Anatomy

Thoracic Spine

The thoracic spine is part of the vertebral column that supports the chest area and provides posterior attachment for the ribs, some thoracic wall muscles, muscles of the upper limb abdomen and back. The thoraci spine lies between the cervical spine superiorly and the lumbar spine inferiorly. It consists of 12 thoracic vertebrae that are in some ways distinct from vertebrae found in other regions of the vertebral column

Bodies

The bodies of the thoracic vertebrae are medium sized and heart shaped. They are all weight bearing and generally increase in size from up downwards with an increase in the amount of weight that needs to be supported. The heads possess articular facets on their sides for articulation with the heads of the ribs

Pedicles

These project from the posterolateral surfaces of the bodies of the ribs and meet posteriorly with the laminae. The pedicles and laminae on either side form the neural arch which together with the posterior surface of the body enclose the vertebral formen. The pedicles are notched on their superior and inferior surfaces, in the articlated thoracic spine, these notches form the intervertebral foramina for the passage of the thoracic spinal nerves

Laminae

Run posteriorly from their junction with the pedicles and and meet in the posterior midline to form the spinous process of each thoracic veretebra

Transverse process

There are two for each veretebra, these are long and thin and provide an articular surface for the tubercle of the rib as well as attachment sites for ligaments and mucles of the thoracic region. They run laterally from the junction between the pedicle and the lamina on either side.

Articular processes

Each veretebra has a superior articular process on each side that has a smooth surface (articular facet) for articulation with the corresponding inferior articular facet of the inferior articular process of the superior vertebra. Each vertebra also has an inferior articulat process on either side that articulates with corresponding superior processes of the subjacent vertebra. Superior articular facets of the thoracis region face posteriorly and laterally, the inferior facets face forward and medially. This arrangement permits rotation to occure between the vertebrae

Vertebral canal

The body and neural arch of each vertebra enclose the vertebral foramen, in an articulated thoracic spine, the vertebral foramina of the stacked vertebrae form a continuous vertebral canal for the passage of the spinal cord and the meninges surrounding it, as well as the arteries and veins supplying these structures. In the thoracic spine, the vertebral foramina are small and circular and this has obvious implications on the spinal cord. The spinal cord in the adult terminates at or around the level of the lower border of the first lumbar vertebra meaning it traverses the entire thoracic spine. Slightly excessive movements of one vertebra relative to another in the thoracic region run a huge risk of compressing the spinal cord and leading to damage of the cord

Spinous process

The spinous processes of thoracic vertebra project posteriorly but mainly downwards. In palpation of the posterior midline in the thoracic region, it will be important to note that the tip of the thoracic spine will lie level with the body of the subjacent vertebra, for example, the spine of the seventh thoracic vertebra C7 will lie roughly at the level of the body of the eighth thoracic vertebra C8

Outcome Measures

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Conditions

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Procedures

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Interventions

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