Ribs and Vertebrae

Question 1

What does a typical rib consist of?

Answer 1

Head, neck and body

Question 2

Describe the head of a rib

Answer 2

• Wedge shaped - 2 articular facets separated by wedge of bone

Question 3

What do the 2 articular facets on the head of the rib articulate with?

Answer 3

• One facet articulates with the vertebra above - The other articulates with the numerically corresponding vertebra E.g. The head of rib 2 articulates with the inferior demi facet of T1 and superior demi facet of T2

Question 4

Describe the body/shaft of a rib

Answer 4

• Flat and curved - Internal surface has groove for neuromuscular supply of thorax (protecting vessels and nerves from damage) E.g. the shaft of rib 2 articulates with the costal facets of T2

Question 5

Describe the neck of a rib

Answer 5

• No bony prominences - Connects head with body

Question 6

What is present where the neck of the rib meets the body?

Answer 6

A roughened tubercle with a facet for articulation with the transverse process of the corresponding vertebrae

Question 7

How is rib 1 atypical?

Answer 7

Has only 1 facet on its head for articulation with corresponding vertebrae (as there isn’t a thoracic vertebra above it) i.e. head articulates only with T1

Flat upper surface of rib may present groove for sublcavian artery and lower trubk of brachial plexus

Tubercle for sclaneus anterior muscle

Question 8

What is the superior surface of rib 1 marked by?

Answer 8

2 grooves that make way for subclavian vessels

Question 9

How is rib 2 atypical?

Answer 9

• Has 2 articular facets (as normal) - Has roughened area on upper surface from which serratus anterior muscle originates
  i. e. presents tuberosity for serratus anterior muscle

Question 10

How is rib 10 atypical?

Answer 10

Has only 1 facet for articulation with its numerically corresponding vertebra

Question 11

How are ribs 11 and 12 atypical?

Answer 11

• Have no neck - Only contain 1 facet for articulation with their corresponding vertebrae

Question 12

What joints does each rib form with the vertebrae of the spine?

Answer 12

1. Costotransverse joint 2. Costovertebral joint

Question 13

Where is the costotransverse joint?

Answer 13

Between the tubercle of the rib (where the neck of the rib meets the body), and the transverse costal facet of the corresponding vertebra

Question 14

Where is the costovertebral joint?

Answer 14

Between the head of the rib, superior costal facet of the corresponding rib, and inferior costal facet of the vertebra above

Question 15

Describe the function of the vertebral body of a thoracic vertebra?

Answer 15

• Vertebral body forms the anterior part of each rib - Is the weight-bearing component

Question 16

Why do vertebrae in the lower portion of the column have larger bodies than those in upper portion?

Answer 16

To support increased weight

Question 17

What does the combination of the vertebral arch and vertebral body form?

Answer 17

An enclosed hole –> the vertebral foramen

Question 18

What do all the foramina of all vertebrae line up to form?

Answer 18

The vertebral canal which encloses the spinal cord

Question 19

Where are the transverse processes?

Answer 19

Each vertebra has 2 transverse processes which extend laterally and posteriorly from the vertebral body (off right and left side)

Question 20

What do the transverse processes articulate with?

Answer 20

Point of articulation with ribs –> there is a costal facet for articulation with the shaft of a single rib

Question 21

What is the spinous process?

Answer 21

Each vertebra has a single spinous process, centred posteriorly at the point of the arch

Question 22

What are the lamina?

Answer 22

Connect the transverse and spinous processes

Question 23

What does each thoracic vertebra have on each side of the vertebral body?

Answer 23

2 demi facets –> superiorly and inferiorly placed on either side of its vertebral body These articulate with the heads of 2 different ribs

Question 24

Where are the costal facets found?

Answer 24

On the transverse process (present on T1-T10 only)

Question 25

What do the costal facets articulate with?

Answer 25

The tubercles of the ribs

Question 26

What do spinous processes offer?

Answer 26

Increased protection to the spinal cord

Question 27

How are the heads of the ribs joined to the vertebrae?

Answer 27

• 1st and last 3 ribs have a single synovial joint with the corresponding vertebrae
• The remaining ribs have two synovial joints: one with the corresponding vertebra and one with the immediate avoe

These joints are formed by the heads of the ribs with the body of the vertebrae

Question 28

How are the tubercles of each rib joined to the vertebrae?

Answer 28

The tubercle of each rib articulates with the transverse process of the corresponding vertebrae through a synovial joint (The tubercles are absent on the eleventh and twelfth ribs and therefore no such joints occur for these ribs)

Question 29

What is found on the superior surface of rib 1?

Answer 29

Marked by 2 grooves –> make way for subclavian vessels

Question 30

What does the tubercle of the rib articulate with?

Answer 30

Transverse process of corresponding vertebrae