Thoracic Spine

Question 1

What are the characteristic features of thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 1

1. Heart shaped vertebral body
2. Demi-facets on sides - for heads of ribs
3. Costal facets on the transverse processes - articulates with tubercles of ribs (T1 - T10 only)
4. Spinous process long

Question 2

Adjacent vertebral bodies are joined by ?

Answer 2

Intervertebral disc made of fibrocartilage

Question 3

Joint present between adjacent vertebral bodies?

Answer 3

Symphysis
(Cartilaginous joint)

Question 4

Between vertebral arches, what joint is present?

Answer 4

A type of synovial joint
Articulation of superior and inferior articular processes

Question 5

The ligament that connects head of the rib to the intervertebral disc?

Answer 5

Intra-articular ligament

Question 6

Name the ligaments of the vertebral column?

Answer 6

1. Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligament
2. Ligamentum flavum
   (connects lamina of adjacent vertebrae)
3. Interspinous ligament
4. Supraspinous ligament

Question 7

What is Thoracic kyphosis?

Answer 7

Excessive curvature of the thoracic spine—– hunched back