Master Set 1 — Thoracic Spine Anatomy

How many vertebrae make up the thoracic spine?

12 vertebrae, T1–T12

What type of normal curvature is present in the thoracic spine?

Kyphotic curvature

What feature most clearly distinguishes thoracic vertebrae from cervical and lumbar vertebrae?

Thoracic vertebrae articulate with the ribs and contain costal facets

Which portion of a thoracic vertebra is the large anterior weight-bearing structure?

Vertebral body

Which structures connect the vertebral body to the posterior vertebral arch?

Pedicles

Which portions of the vertebral arch extend between the transverse processes and spinous process?

Laminae

How do thoracic spinous processes typically differ from those of other vertebral regions?

They are relatively long and usually project inferiorly

Which thoracic vertebral structures project laterally and provide attachment and rib-articulation sites?

Transverse processes

Which opening within a thoracic vertebra transmits the spinal cord?

Vertebral foramen

Which openings between adjacent thoracic vertebrae transmit spinal nerves?

Intervertebral foramina

What fibrocartilaginous structure between adjacent vertebral bodies absorbs shock and permits movement?

Intervertebral disc

What joints are formed between the superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae?

Zygapophyseal joints

At approximately what angle do the thoracic zygapophyseal joints lie relative to the midsagittal plane?

Approximately 70–75°

Which thoracic vertebrae have the most characteristic thoracic features, including costal facets and long inferiorly directed spinous processes?

Mid-thoracic vertebrae

Which thoracic vertebrae are considered more atypical or transitional?

T1 and the lower thoracic vertebrae, especially T10–T12

What feature distinguishes T1 from a typical mid-thoracic vertebra?

T1 has a complete superior costal facet for the first rib and transitional cervical features

How do T10–T12 gradually change compared with the mid-thoracic vertebrae?

They become increasingly similar to lumbar vertebrae

What is a costal facet?

A smooth articular surface on a thoracic vertebra where a rib articulates

What is a demifacet?

A partial costal facet that shares articulation with the head of a rib

What joint is formed between the head of a rib and the thoracic vertebral body/costal facets?

Costovertebral joint

What joint is formed between the tubercle of a rib and the transverse process of a thoracic vertebra?

Costotransverse joint

Which part of a rib articulates with the vertebral body at the costovertebral joint?

Head of the rib

Which part of a rib articulates with the transverse process at the costotransverse joint?

Tubercle of the rib

Which thoracic levels normally form costotransverse joints?

T1–T10

Why are costotransverse joints absent at T11 and T12?

Ribs 11 and 12 do not articulate with the transverse processes

What is the cervicothoracic junction?

The transition between the cervical and thoracic spine, especially the C7–T1 region