Thoracic Anatomy

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Original Editor - Lucinda hampton Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton and Kim Jackson

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Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton and Kim Jackson  

Introduction

This guide gives a general overview of the anatomy of the thoracic spine.

Important Structures

The important parts of the thoracic spine include

• bones
• joints
• motion
• nerves
• connective tissues
• muscles
• spinal segment

Bones

The human spine is made up of 24 spinal bones, called vertebrae. Vertebrae are stacked on top of one another to create the spinal column. The spinal column is the body’s main upright support.

• The middle 12 Thoracic vertebrae make up the thoracic spine.
• T5-T8 tend to be the most “typical” in that they contain features present in all thoracic vertebrae. T5-T8 have the greatest rotation ability of the thoracic region.
• T1 - superior costal facets are “whole” costal facets. They alone articulate with the first rib; C7 has no costal facets. T1 does, however, have typical inferior demifacets for articulation with the second rib. Vertebral prominens name given to long prominent spinous process found at T1
• T11 and T12 are atypical - contain a single pair, “whole,” costal facet that articulate with the 11 and 12 ribs, respectively. They also lack facets on the transverse processes.
• The primary characteristic of the thoracic vertebrae is the presence of costal facets.  There are 6 facets per thoracic vertebrae: 2 on the transverse processes and 4 demifacets. The facets of the transverse processes articulate with the tubercle of the associated rib. The demifacets are bilaterally paired and located on the superior and inferior posterolateral aspects of the vertebrae. They are positioned so that the superior demifacet of inferior vertebrae articulates with the head of the same rib that articulates with the inferior demifacet of a superior rib. For example, the inferior demifacets of T4 and the superior demifacets of T5 articulate with the head of rib 5.
• The length of the transverse processes decreases as the column descends.
• The positioning of the ribs and spinous processes greatly limits flexion and extension of the thoracic vertebrae.
• Thoracic vertebrae have superior articular facets that face in a posterolateral direction.
• The spinous process is long, relative to other regions, and is directed posteroinferiorly. This projection gradually increases as the column descends before decreasing rapidly from T9-T12.
• The intervertebral disc height, is, on average, the least of the vertebral regions.
• Vertebral body size: increases progressively from T1 to T12
• Spinal canal dimensions: varies from T1 to T12

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