Thoracic Anatomy

Question 1

Ribs: what articulates with a thoracic vertebra?

Answer 1

• head

- articular tubercle

Question 2

joints formed by rib and vertebrae

Answer 2

• costovertebral
• costotransverse

both are synovial

Question 3

each rib articulates with

Answer 3

• 2 vertebral bodies

- disc between

Question 4

neck of rib (tubercle) articulates with

Answer 4

transverse processes (costal facets) to form costotransverse joint

Question 5

articulations of T11 and T12

Answer 5

• one facet articulates with 1 rib

- no articulation with TP

Question 6

costovertebral and costotransverse joints are important for

Answer 6

respiration (not really for spinal movement)

Question 7

describe typical thoracic vertebral body

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

spinous processes: thoracic

Answer 8

• slope down, esp T1

- when you press on spinous process of T5, you’re actually pushing into the body of T6

Question 9

transverse processes: thoracic

Answer 9

• project posterolateral

- ribs go posterior before they go around

Question 10

orientation of thoracic facets

Answer 10

• nearly vertical

- in frontal plane

Question 11

Why is mobility so limited in thoracic versus other regions? What mostly limits this motion?

Answer 11

• significantly limited by ribs and facet orientation

- also limited by orientation of spinous processes

Question 12

describe costotransverse joint

Answer 12

• articulation between tubercle of rib and transverse process of vertebrae
• synovial
• stabilized by costotransverse and capsular ligaments

Question 13

describe costovertebral joint

Answer 13

• anterior to apophyseal joint
• connects head of rib with costal demifacets and adjacent IV disc
• stabilized by radiate and capsular ligaments

Question 14

kyphosis in a normal person

Answer 14

• gravity from BW creates small amt of cervical extension

- small thoracic flexion torque

Question 15

moderate kyphosis and gravity

Answer 15

• moderate c/t flexion torque

Question 16

severe kyphosis and gravity/forces

Answer 16

• small cervical extension torque

- LARGE thoracic flexion torque

Question 17

disc issues/OP (kyphosis/gravity) results in

Answer 17

• increased ant compression
• inc fx
• osteophyte formation

Question 18

What is scoliosis?

Answer 18

• deformity with abn curvatures in all 3 planes (mostly horizontal/vertical)
• may be functional or structural

Question 19

Who gets scoliosis most?

Answer 19

• mostly idiopathic

- teenage females

Question 20

Scoliosis is named by

Answer 20

convex side of curve

Question 21

scoliosis: approximation/gapping

Answer 21

• approximation of facets on concave side

- gapping on side of convexity

Question 22

scoliosis: compressive forces and rotation

Answer 22

• compressive forces on concave side of vertebral bodies

- rotation of vertebrae with ribs following rotation and creating a hump

Question 23

What is the best way to detect a rib hump?

Answer 23

have the pt lean forward: hump will show

Question 24

Which side does the rib hump appear?

Answer 24

convex side of curve

Question 25

right thoracic scoliosis » hump on the _____ side

Answer 25

right