Topic 1 - Thoracic Spine & Rib Cage Flashcards
The thoracic spine region is the most _____ part of the spine because of the ribcage.
Rigid
There is a mild primary ________ curvature in the thoracic spine.
Kyphotic
The thoracic spine is the largest region of the vertebral column, making up ___% of the overall body length.
20%
The ______ is the site of global and local/intrinsic muscle attachments that are part of the shoulder girdle, cervical spine and pelvic girdle.
Thorax
T/F - Almost every task requires the transference of loads through the thorax and therefore needs control.
True
____________ dysfunction is thought to affect other regions and contribute to pain syndromes including:
- Faulty posture
- Glenohumeral impingement
- TMJ disorder
Mid-Thoracic
T/F - Low grade thoracic spine complaints are common, and often outweigh neck and low back problems.
False - Low grade thoracic spine complaints are common, BUT ARE often OVERSHADOWED BY neck and low back problems.
T/F - Nerve/intervertebral disc lesions and radicular pain are common due to the structural rigidity of the region.
False - Nerve/intervertebral disc lesions and radicular pain are RARE due to the structural rigidity of the region.
T/F - The upper thoracic spine is a common area for degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
True
____________ is the most common disease affecting the thoracic spine.
Osteoporosis
___________ fractures are common in the _____ thoracic spine and occur as a result of osteoporosis or trauma.
Compression
Lower
Conditions to ____ ___ in the thoracic spine include:
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Nerve lesions (e.g. shingles, intercostal neuropathy)
- Visceral referral (consider somatic pain referral)
- Systemic diseases
- Cervicogenic dorsalgia
Rule Out
There are a total of ___ thoracic vertebrae and intervertebral discs. The vertebral bodies are _____ shaped and the intervertebral discs are flatter and more ______.
12
Heart
Narrow
Thoracic spinous processes are pointy, long and project __________ and ___________. They restrict _________ due to their orientation.
Inferiorly
Posteriorly
Extension
Thoracic facet surfaces tend to be ________ and occur along the coronal plane.
Vertical
T/F - There is more rotation available as you move down the thoracic spine.
False - There is LESS rotation available as you move down the thoracic spine.
The upper thoracic spine refers to ___ to ___ and the lower thoracic spine refers to ___ to ____.
T1-T2
T3-T12
T1 (_______________ junction) and T12 (_____________ junction) are considered ____________ vertebrae, therefore they can begin to move in unison with their articulating vertebrae.
Cervicothoracic
Thoracolumbar
Transitional
Fill in the blanks for the rule of three related to the thoracic spine:
1-3 TP and SP ____ level
4-6 TP ____ level above the SP
7-9 TP ___ level above the SP
10 TP ___ level above the SP
11 TP ____ level above the SP
12 TP and SP ____ level
1-3 TP and SP SAME level
4-6 TP HALF level above the SP
7-9 TP ONE level above the SP
10 TP ONE level above the SP
11 TP HALF level above the SP
12 TP and SP SAME level
Which of the following arthrokinematic movements of the thoracic spine is being described below?
“Inferior facets of the superior motion segment glide up and forward (open).”
Flexion
Which of the following arthrokinematic movements of the thoracic spine is being described below?
“Inferior facets of the superior motion segment glide down and back (close).”
Extension
T/F - With thoracic spine lateral flexion to the right, facets close on the right and open on the left.
True
T/F - With thoracic spine rotation to the left, facets close on the right and open on the left.
False - With thoracic spine rotation to the left, facets close on the LEFT and open on the RIGHT.
Match the following normal ranges of motion for the thoracic spine with the corresponding action.
1) 35-50 degrees
2) 20-40 degrees
3) 20-45 degrees
4) 25-45 degrees
A) Flexion
B) Extension
C) Lateral Flexion
D) Rotation
1) 35-50 degrees - D) Rotation
2) 20-40 degrees - C) Lateral Flexion
3) 20-45 degrees - A) Flexion
4) 25-45 degrees - B) Extension
The ____ contribute to spinal stability while restricting forward bending, side bending and rotation. They also protect _______.
Ribs
Viscera
________ ribs have the following characteristics:
- Articulate with 1 vertebral body
- Not united to a disc
- Articulate with the numerically corresponding vertebral body only
Atypical
T/F - Ribs 1, 2, 11 and 12 are classified as atypical ribs.
False - Ribs 1, 11 and 12 are classified as atypical ribs.
_______ ribs have the following characteristics:
- Articulate with 2 vertebral bodies
- Articulate with the numerically corresponding vertebral body and intervertebral disc, as well as the vertebral body above
- Head with 2 facets on either side of a tiny crest
Typical
Ribs 11 and 12 are considered ________ ribs.
Floating
Ribs 1 and 2 articulate with the _________ in the front. Ribs 3-7 articulate with the _______.
Manubrium
Sternum
Connection of the rib head to a thoracic vertebral body.
Costovertebral Joint (CVJ)
Connection of the facet of the tubercle of the rib and the adjacent transverse process of a thoracic vertebrae.
Costotransverse Joint (CTJ)
When the mid-thoracic spine ______, the ribs roll anteriorly and glide superiorly.
Flexes
When the mid-thoracic spine extends, the ribs roll ___________ and glide __________.
Posteriorly
Inferiorly
When the mid-thoracic spine laterally flexes, the ribs approximate _____________ and separate _______________.
Ipsilaterally
Contralaterally
When the mid-thoracic spine rotates, the ___________ rib will posteriorly rotate and the _____________ rib will anteriorly rotate.
Ipsilateral
Contralateral
Movement of the ribs with lower thoracic spine movement are quite different due to __________ differences in the vertebrae and rib connections.
Structural
How many joints are in the thorax?
136
T/F - There is a lot of movement in the thorax, even if each joint only moves a little bit.
True
We generate our core power with thoracopelvic ________.
Rotation
The ______ is the key contributor for trunk rotation.
Thorax
Thoracic mobility and control is essential for the trunk to act as spring during compressive _______.
Loading
The thorax adjusts for changes in center of mass over base of support, especially _______ shifts.
Lateral
Contains 2 ribs of the same number, the vertebrae to which they attach and the anterior coastal attachments to the sternum and manubrium.
Thoracic Ring
Which structures are included in the 4th thoracic ring?
- Left and right 4th ribs
- T3
- T4
- 4th costocartilages
- Sternum
How many complete and incomplete thoracic rings are there?
10 complete (1-10)
2 incomplete (11-12)
T/F - The entire thoracic ring does not need to be intact for optimal biomechanics.
False - The entire thoracic ring NEEDS to be intact for optimal biomechanics.
During flexion of the trunk the thoracic rings __________ tilt, and conversely during extension the thoracic rings ___________ tilt.
Anteriorly
Posteriorly
T/F - During side bending of the trunk, the vertebrae side flex contralaterally, ribs approximate ipsilaterally and separate contralaterally.
False - During side bending of the trunk, the vertebrae side flex IPSILATERALLY, ribs approximate ipsilaterally and separate contralaterally.
During ________ of the trunk, the ipsilateral rib will posteriorly rotate, the contralateral rib will anteriorly rotate and the vertebra will shift to the _____________ side.
Rotation
Contralateral
During ___________, the _______ muscles of respiration include:
- Diaphragm
- Levator costorum
- External intercostals
- Internal intercostals (anterior)
Inspiration
Primary
During __________, the _______ muscles of respiration include:
- Internal obliques
- External obliques
- Rectus abdominus
- Transversus abdominus
- Transversus thoracis
- Transverse intercostals
- Internal intercostals (posterior)
Expiration
Primary