Thoracic Anatomy Flashcards
Ribs: what articulates with a thoracic vertebra?
- head
- articular tubercle
joints formed by rib and vertebrae
- costovertebral
- costotransverse
both are synovial
each rib articulates with
- 2 vertebral bodies
- disc between
neck of rib (tubercle) articulates with
transverse processes (costal facets) to form costotransverse joint
articulations of T11 and T12
- one facet articulates with 1 rib
- no articulation with TP
costovertebral and costotransverse joints are important for
respiration (not really for spinal movement)
describe typical thoracic vertebral body
- small(er) central canal (SC isn’t as big)
- bodies are heart shaped
- less motion in thoracic bc of ribs, so SC doesn’t need as much wiggle room in central canal
spinous processes: thoracic
- slope down, esp T1
- when you press on spinous process of T5, you’re actually pushing into the body of T6
transverse processes: thoracic
- project posterolateral
- ribs go posterior before they go around
orientation of thoracic facets
- nearly vertical
- in frontal plane
Why is mobility so limited in thoracic versus other regions? What mostly limits this motion?
- significantly limited by ribs and facet orientation
- also limited by orientation of spinous processes
describe costotransverse joint
- articulation between tubercle of rib and transverse process of vertebrae
- synovial
- stabilized by costotransverse and capsular ligaments
describe costovertebral joint
- anterior to apophyseal joint
- connects head of rib with costal demifacets and adjacent IV disc
- stabilized by radiate and capsular ligaments
kyphosis in a normal person
- gravity from BW creates small amt of cervical extension
- small thoracic flexion torque
moderate kyphosis and gravity
- moderate c/t flexion torque
severe kyphosis and gravity/forces
- small cervical extension torque
- LARGE thoracic flexion torque
disc issues/OP (kyphosis/gravity) results in
- increased ant compression
- inc fx
- osteophyte formation
What is scoliosis?
- deformity with abn curvatures in all 3 planes (mostly horizontal/vertical)
- may be functional or structural
Who gets scoliosis most?
- mostly idiopathic
- teenage females
Scoliosis is named by
convex side of curve
scoliosis: approximation/gapping
- approximation of facets on concave side
- gapping on side of convexity
scoliosis: compressive forces and rotation
- compressive forces on concave side of vertebral bodies
- rotation of vertebrae with ribs following rotation and creating a hump
What is the best way to detect a rib hump?
have the pt lean forward: hump will show
Which side does the rib hump appear?
convex side of curve
right thoracic scoliosis » hump on the _____ side
right
