Thoracic Vertebrae
Thoracic Vertebrae
Thoracic Vertebrae
The vertebral column is made up of 33 vertebrae: Seven cervical, twelve thoracic, five
lumbar, five sacral and four coccygeal.
Sometimes the vertebrae are also grouped according to their mobility. The movable or true
vertebrae include the seven cervical, twelve thoracic and five lumbar vertebrae, making a
total of 24. Twelve thoracic vertebrae have ribs attached to them. The fixed vertebrae
include those of the sacrum and coccyx.
There are 12 thoracic vertebrae, out of which the second to eighth are typical, and the
remaining five (first, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth) are atypical.
Typical Thoracic Vertebrae
The body is heart-shaped with roughly the same measurements from side-to-side and
antero- posteriorly. On each side, it bears two costal demi- facets. The superior costal
demifacet is larger and placed on the upper border of the body near the pedicle. It
articulates with the head of the numerically corresponding rib. The inferior costal demifacet
is smaller and placed on the lower border in front of the inferior vertebral notchIt articulates
with the next lower rib.
• Vertebral foramen
3) The superior articular processes project upwards from the junction of the
pedicles and laminae. The articular facets are flat and are directed backwards.
This direction permits rotatory movements of the spine.
4) The inferior articular processes are fused to the laminae .Their articular facets
are directed forwards.
5) The transverse processes are large, and are directed laterally and backwards
from the junction of the pedicles and laminae. The anterior surface of each
process bears a facet near its tip, for articulation with the tubercle of the
corresponding rib. In the upper six vertebrae, the costal facets on the transverse
processes are concave, and face forwards and laterally. In lower four, the facets
are flat and face upwards, laterally and slightly forwards. In the last two
vertebrae, the articular facets are absent.
6) The spine is long, and is directed downwards and backwards. The fifth to ninth
spines are the longest, more vertical and overlap each other. The upper and
lower spines are less oblique in direction
Attachments
1) The upper and lower borders of the body give attachment, in front and behind
respectively to the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments .
2) The upper borders and lower parts of the anterior surfaces of the laminae provide
attachment to the ligamenta flava.
iv) The intertransverse ligaments and muscles to upper and lower borders.
4) The spines give attachment to the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments. They also
give attachment to several muscles including the trapezius, the rhom- boids, the
latissimus dorsi, the serratus posterior superior and the serratus posterior inferior, and
many deep muscles of the back.
Atypical Thoracic Vertebrae
First Thoracic Vertebra
1) The body of this vertebra resembles that of a cervical vertebra. It is broad and
not heart-shaped. Its upper surface is lipped laterally and bevelled anteriorly. The
superior costal facet on the body is complete . It articulates with the head of the
first rib. The inferior costal facet is a 'demifacet' for the second rib.
The ninth thoracic vertebra resembles a typical thoracic vertebra except that the body
has only the superior costal demifacets. The inferior costal facets are absent. Facet on
transverse process is flat on T7- T10 vertebrae.
The tenth thoracic vertebra resembles a typical thoracic vertebra except that the body
has a single complete superior costal facet on each side, extending onto the root of the
pedicle
1) The body has a single large costal facet on each side, extending onto the upper
part of the pedicle .
1) The shapes of the body, pedicles, transverse processes and spine are similar to
those of a lumbar vertebra. However, the body bears a single costal facet on
each side, which lies more on the lower part of the pedicle than on the body.
2) The transverse process is small and has no facet, but has superior, inferior and
lateral tubercles.
3) The inferior articular facets are lumbar in type. These are everted and are
directed laterally, but the superior articular facets are thoracic in type.
Joints
The joints of the thoracic spine can be divided into two groups those that are present
throughout the vertebral column, and those unique to the thoracic spine.
There are two types of joints present throughout the vertebral column.
II. Between vertebral arches - formed by the articulation of superior and inferior
articular processes from adjacent vertebrae. It is a synovial type joint.
2) Each costovertebral joint consists of the head of the rib articulating with.
5) Intervertebral disc separating the two vertebrae Within this joint, the intra-articular
ligament of head of rib attaches the rib head to the intervertebral disc. Only slight
gliding movements can occur at these joints, due to the close articulation of their
components.
6) The costotransverse joints are formed by the articulation of transverse processes of
a thoracic vertebra and the tubercle of the adjacent rib. They are present in all
vertebrae except T11 and T12.
Clinical Anatomy
Kyphosis is an excessive curvature of the thoracic spine, causing the back to appear
“hunched”.
Various diseases can also lead to kyphosis in adults. The most common cause is
osteoporosis.
In young children (up to 2 years of age), the thoracic cavity is almost circular in cross-section
so the scope for anteroposterior or side-to-side expansion is limited. The type of respiration
in children is abdominal.