Thoracic Spine Flashcards
What are the characteristic differences between Thoracic vertebra 1-8
versus Thoracic Vertebra 9-12?
T1 - T8 have superior and inferior costal facets, as they articulate with 2 pairs of ribs
T10-12 have a single costal facet on each side
T11 - T12 (Floating ribs) have costal facets attached to the pedicle
Why are T11 & T12 called floating ribs?
Because the anterior ribs have no attachments to the sternum or costal cartilage of the ribs above. They attach only to the vertebra body.
Why is it that the first 7 pairs of ribs are known as true ribs and ribs 8-10 are called false ribs?
Ribs 1-7 – The heads of these ribs are attached to the vertebra posteriorly and to the sternum anteriorly to form the thoracic cage
Ribs 8-10 – the costal cartilage of these ribs articulate with the costal cartilage of the ribs above
The superior and inferior costal facets of Thoracic vertebra ___ to T ____ are found on the ______ of each vertebra and articulates with the ______ of the ribs
Thoracic vertebrae 1 - 8
body
head
Rib ___ to ____ contact their vertebra at two points
Costal and ____ facets
Rib 1 to 10
Costal and transverse facets
The transverse process of T 1 - T10 have _____________ facets on their anterolateral surface to articulate with the _____ of the ribs
transverse costal facets
tubercle of the ribs
There are two types of joints present throughout the vertebral column:
Between vertebral bodies – adjacent vertebral bodies are joined by _______, made of _________. This is a type of cartilaginous joint, known as a symphysis.
Between ________ – formed by the articulation of superior and inferior articular processes from adjacent vertebrae. It is a synovial type joint.
Intervertebral discs,
made of fibrocartilage
vertebral arches
The joints of the thoracic spine can be divided into two groups – those that are present throughout the vertebral column, and those unique to the thoracic spine.
The joints that are unique to the thoracic spine are?
Costovertebral joint
Costotransverse Joint
The articulations between the vertebrae and the ribs are ______ to the thoracic spine. For each rib, there are two separate articulations – costovertebral and costotransverse.
Each costovertebral joint consists of the ____ of the rib articulating with:
Superior costal facet of the corresponding vertebra
____________ of the superior vertebra
Intervertebral disc separating the two vertebrae
Within this joint, the intra-articular ligament of ____ of rib attaches the rib head to the intervertebral disc. Only slight _____ movements can occur at these joints, due to the close articulation of their components.
The costotransverse joints are formed by the articulation of _____________ of a thoracic vertebra and the tubercle of the adjacent rib. They are present in all vertebrae except ____ and T12.
unique head inferior costal facet gliding head transverse process T11
The thoracic spine is strengthened by the presence of numerous ligaments.
Present Throughout Vertebral Column are the:
________ and ______ ligaments: Long ligaments that run the length of the vertebral column, covering the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs.
____________ : Connects the laminae of adjacent vertebrae.
_____________: Connects the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae.
________ : Connects the tips of adjacent spinous processes.
(Note: In the ______ spine, the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments thicken and combine to form the ______ ligament).
Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments Ligamentum flavum Interspinous ligament Supraspinous ligament cervical nuchal
Kyphosis is an ____________ of the thoracic spine, causing the back to appear “hunched”. It may occur for a number of reasons early in life. These include___________, abnormally wedge-shaped shaped vertebrae (Scheuermann’s kyphosis), and fusing of vertebrae during development.
Various diseases can also lead to kyphosis in adults. The most common cause is _______ – a condition whereby bone mass is lost (mostly in older people). This leaves the spine less able to support the weight of the body, thus resulting in characteristic kyphosis.
excessive curvature
poor posture
osteoporosis
