Thoracic region

Question 1

What is the function of the thoracic cage?

Answer 1

Protection of vital organs, provides muscle attachments, assists respiration

Question 2

What are the atypical thoracic vertebrae and what makes them atypical?

Answer 2

T1: vertebrae articulates with a single facet of its’ own rib
T10/T11: lack inf. demi-facets on their bodies
T11/T12: lack transverse costal facets, articulating only with the heads of their own ribs.

Question 3

What is the thoracic rule of 3?

Answer 3

T123 SP & TP are equal
T456 SP 1/2 level below TP
T789 SP 1 level below TP
T10 SP 1 level below TP
T11 SP 1/2 level below TP
T12 SP & TP are equal

Question 4

True ribs

Answer 4

Upper 7 ribs that articulate directly with the sternum

Question 5

False ribs

Answer 5

remaining 5 pairs of ribs that have no direct articulation with the sternum

Question 6

Floating ribs

Answer 6

ribs 11 & 12 have no connection anteriorly with any of the other ribs or the sternum.

Question 7

Joints between thoracic vertebrae

Answer 7

Facet/zygapophysial - horizontal and help facilitate rotation (synovial plane)
Intervertebral - secondary cartilaginous symphysis between vertebral bodies with intervertebral disc in-between

Question 8

Joints between ribs and vertebrae

Answer 8

Costovertebral joints - head of rib & costal facet on vertebral body (synovial plane)
Costotransverse joints - tubercle of rib with TP of vertebrae (synovial plane)

Question 9

Joints between cartilage & ribs

Answer 9

Costochondral joint - between sternal end of rib & lateral end of cc (primary cartilaginous no movement)
Interchondral joint - between the cc of last few ribs (6,7,8,9)(synovial plane) Joints between 9th & 10th is fibrous.

Question 10

Joints of sternum

Answer 10

Manubrial-sternal - symphysis (manubrium and body of sternum)
Sterno-clavicular - saddle joint articulation between sternal end of clavicle with manubrium of sternum and 1st cc
Xiphisternal - synchondrosis articulation between xiphoid process and sternum
Sternocostal - 1st rib is primary cartilaginous from 1st cc articulates with manubrium of sternum. 2nd-7th are synovial plane sternum and 2-7th cc

Question 11

What are the movements within the thoracic spine?

Answer 11

Less mobile than lumbar and cervical region
Rotation is greatest range
Flexion & lateral flexion more restricted

Question 12

What typical features do typical ribs have (3rd-9th)?

Answer 12

Head - has 2 facets that articulate with demi-facets of its articulating thoracic vertebrae.
Crest - raised bone in-between facets articulate with intervertebral disc at same level
Neck
Tubercle - articular surface articulates with TP of its own level
Shaft

Question 13

Distinct features of upper and lower ribs

Answer 13

RIB 1 - flat, slopes inf. attaches to manubrium, contains scalene tubercle and 2 separate grooves
RIB 2 - like rib 1 but twice as long
RIB 10 - single facet, articulates with its own vertebra
RIBS 11 & 12 - articulates only with its own vertebra, no tubercles or necks.

Question 14

Intercostal spaces (contents and muscles)

Answer 14

Spaces between ribs which holds a neurovascular bundle
CONTENTS: Intercostal arteries and veins, intercostal nerve
MUSCLES: External, internal and innermost intercostals
The intercostal neurovascular bundle passes between the innermost and intermediate intercostals

Question 15

Flexion muscles

Answer 15

Rectus Abdominus
External Obliques
Internal Obliques

Question 16

Extension muscles

Answer 16

Erector Spinae
Multifidus
Interspinales

Question 17

Side flexion muscles

Answer 17

Erector Spinae, Internal Obliques, External Obliques, Multifidus, Intertransversus, Rectus Abdominus

Question 18

Rotation muscles

Answer 18

Internal Obliques, External Obliques, Erector Spinae, Rotatores, Rectus Abdominus, Multifidus