(4) Thoracic Spine Functional Anatomy / Biomechanics Flashcards
Thoracic Spine Rule of 3’s
T1-3: SP same level as TP
T4-6: SP 1/2 level down from TP
T7-9: SP 1 level down from TP
T10: SP 1 level down from TP
T11: SP 1/2 level down from TP
T12: SP same level as TP
Disc: Vertebral Body Ratio in T-Spine / C-Spine / L-Spine
T-Spine: 1:5 (disc narrower / thinner here than Cervical and Lumbar)
C-Spine: 2:5
L-Spine: 1:3
IV Foramina are ___ in T-Spine.
larger
bony contact / compression of spinal nerve roots less common
“Critical Zone” Within T-Spine
Spinal Canal at T4-9 (at its narrowest)
Increased chance of SC compression / likely location of Thoracic Neuropathy
Is the herniation of a Disc in the Thoracic Spine possible?
YES!
Difficult / rare
ALL and PLL in the Thoracic Spine
ALL: Narrow but thicker than Cervical / Lumbar
PLL: Well-developed / diamond-shaped / wider in disc area and more narrow in vertebral body area
Ligamentum Flavum
Connects lamina of adjacent vertebra
Supraspinous Ligament
Connects tips of SPs
Interspinous Ligament
Blends w/ Supraspinous Ligament / thin
Bony Thoracic Cage
12 pairs of ribs / sternum / clavicle / t-spine vertebrae
Primary Function of Rib Cage
Protect heart / lungs
True / False / Floating Ribs
True: 1-7 / attach directly to Sternum
False: 8-10 / attach to costochondral cartilage
Floating: 11-12 / unattached anteriorly
Cervical Rib
Elongation of cervical TP (C7 most commonly reported)
Often identified in patients with TOS
Thoracic spinal cord is ___ ___ into spinal canal. What does this mean?
tightly packed
Makes it unusually susceptible to injury
Narrow spinal canal / easy to disrupt blood supply
ALL Spinal Nerves have a ___ component.
sympathetic
Sympathetic Innervation by Location
Head: T1-2
UEs: T3-7
Trunk / Thorax: T1-12
LEs: T7-12
