Regions of the Vertebral Column: Thoracic Region (Atypical Thoracic Vertebrae T1, T9-T12)

Question 1

How many synovial joints are formed at the vertebral body of T1?

Answer 1

Four normally

Question 2

How many symphysis joints are formed with the vertebral body of T1?

Answer 2

Two

Question 3

How many joints are formed at the vertebral body of T1?

Answer 3

Typically ten (fourteen if the rib ligaments are included)

Question 4

What ligament is absent at the costotransverse joint of T1?

Answer 4

The superior costotransverse ligament

Question 5

What ligaments attach to the transverse process of T1?

Answer 5

Intertransverse, capsular costotransverse, superior costotransverse, inferior costotransverse, and lateral costotransverse

Question 6

What muscles attach to the spinous process of T1?

Answer 6

The trapezius, rhomboid minor, serratus posterior superior, splenius capitis, spinalis thoracis, spinalis cervicis, spinalis capitis, semispinalis thoracis, multifidis, rotator longus, rotator brevis, interspinalis

Question 7

How many synovial joints are formed at the vertebral body of T9?

Answer 7

Four

Question 8

How many symphysis joints are formed with the vertebral body of T9?

Answer 8

Two

Question 9

How many joints are typically formed at the vertebral body of T9?

Answer 9

Typically ten (fourteen if the costocentral stellate/radiate ligaments are included)

Question 10

What ligaments attach to the transverse process of T9?

Answer 10

Intertransverse, capsular costotransverse, superior costotransverse, inferior costotransverse, and lateral costotransverse ligaments

Question 11

What muscles attach to the spinous process of T9?

Answer 11

The trapezius, latissimus dorsi, multifidis, rotator longus, rotator brevis, and interspinalis

Question 12

How many synovial joints are formed at the vertebral body of T10?

Answer 12

Two

Question 13

How many symphysis joints are formed with the vertebral body of T10?

Answer 13

Two

Question 14

How many joints are typically formed at the vertebral body of T10?

Answer 14

Typically eight (twelve if the costocentral stellate/radiate ligaments are included)

Question 15

Which synovial joint surface is absent from the vertebral body of T10?

Answer 15

Inferior costal demi-facets

Question 16

Para-articular processes are more commonly observed on which segment of the spine?

Answer 16

T10

Question 17

What muscles attach to the transverse process of T10?

Answer 17

Longissimus thoracis, semispinalis thoracis, multifidis, rotator longus, rotator brevis, intertransversarii, levator costarum longus, and levator costarum brevis

Question 18

A dimpling or depression of the skin in the thoracic region is often characteristic of the location of which segment?

Answer 18

T10

Question 19

What name is given to T11?

Answer 19

The anticlinal vertebra

Question 20

What is the outline of the vertebral body of T11 on superior view?

Answer 20

Kidney-shaped or reniform

Question 21

What joint classifications are identified at the vertebral body of T11?

Answer 21

Fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis, cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis, and synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia) joint

Question 22

Which ligament of the costocentral joint is absent for the eleventh rib?

Answer 22

The costocentral interarticular or intra-articular ligament

Question 23

What part of the transverse process is absent present on T11?

Answer 23

The transverse costal facet

Question 24

What ligaments form the costotransverse joint of T11?

Answer 24

The superior costotransverse, and slightly developed inferior costotransverse and lateral costotransverse ligaments

Question 25

What muscles attach to the transverse process of T11?

Answer 25

Longissimus thoracis, semispinalis thoracis, multifidis, rotator longus, rotator brevis, intertransversarii, and levator costarum brevis

Question 26

How many synovial joints are typically present at T11?

Answer 26

Six

Question 27

What muscles attach to the spinous process of T11?

Answer 27

Trapezius, latissimus dorsi, serratus posterior inferior, iliocostalis lumborum, spinalis thoracis, multifidis, rotator longus, rotator brevis, and interspinalis

Question 28

At which segments of the thoracic spine will the spinalis muscle not attach?

Answer 28

T9, T10

Question 29

What is the outline of the vertebral body of T12 on superior view?

Answer 29

Kidney-shaped or reniform

Question 30

How many synovial joints are formed at the vertebral body of T12?

Answer 30

Two

Question 31

How many symphysis joints are formed with the vertebral body of T12?

Answer 31

Two

Question 32

How many syndesmosis joints are formed at the vertebral body of T12?

Answer 32

Four are typically identified (as many as six if the costocentral stellate/radiate ligaments are included)

Question 33

Which muscle(s) is attached to the vertebral body of T12?

Answer 33

Psoas major and psoas minor

Question 34

What does the superior tubercle of T12 represent?

Answer 34

The mammillary process of lumbar vertebrae

Question 35

What does the inferior tubercle of T12 represent?

Answer 35

The accessory process of lumbar vertebrae

Question 36

What ligaments form the costotransverse joint of the twelfth rib?

Answer 36

The superior costotransverse ligament from T11 and the lumbocostal ligament from L1

Question 37

Which costotransverse ligament(s) are attached at T12?

Answer 37

None; the capsular, superior, inferior, and lateral costotransverse ligaments lack an attachment to T12

Question 38

Which costotransverse ligament(s) lack an attachment to T12?

Answer 38

Capsular costotransverse, superior costotransverse, inferior costotransverse, and lateral costotransverse ligaments

Question 39

What muscles attach to the transverse process region of T12?

Answer 39

The longissimus thoracis, semispinalis thoracis, multifidis, rotator longus, rotator brevis, and intertransversarii

Question 40

Which segment is the last to demonstrate a levator costarum brevis attachment?

Answer 40

T11

Question 41

Which segment is the last to demonstrate a levator costarum longus attachment?

Answer 41

T10

Question 42

What is the orientation of the superior articular facets of T12?

Answer 42

They face backward, upward, and lateral (BUL)

Question 43

What is the orientation of the inferior articular facets of T12?

Answer 43

They face forward, downward, and lateral (FoLD)

Question 44

How many synovial joints are typically present at T12?

Answer 44

Six

Question 45

What is the generic appearance of the spinous process of T12?

Answer 45

Lumbar-like, similar in length to T11

Question 46

What muscles attach to the spinous process of T12?

Answer 46

The trapezius, latissimus dorsi, serratus posterior inferior, iliocostalis lumborum, spinalis thoracis, multifidis, rotator longus, rotator brevis, and interspinalis