Tx Joints

Question 1

What are the 3 types of joints in the thoracic cage?

Answer 1

Sternal

Costal / Chondral

Posterior Thoracic

Question 2

What are the different joints in the thoracic cage?

Answer 2

10 types altogether:

• 4 sternal
• 2 costal / chondral
• 4 posterior thoracic

Sternal (4 types):

• manubriosternal (between manubrium and body of sternum)
• xiphisternal (between body of sternum and xiphoid process)
• sternoclavicular (between sternum, clavicle and rib 1)
• sternocostal (between sternum and costal cartilages of ribs 1-7)

Costal / Chondral (2 types):

• costochondral (between ribs and costal cartilages)
• interchondral (between adjacent costal cartilages of ribs 6-10)

Posterior Thoracic (4 types):

• intervertebral (between adjacent vertebrae and IVD)
• zygapophyseal (between articular facets of adjacent vertebrae)
• costovertebral (between rib head and adjacent vertebrae)
• costotransverse (between rib tubercle and costal facet on transverse process)

Question 3

Which joints in the thoracic cage are secondary cartilaginous?

Answer 3

2 types:

• manubriosternal
• intervertebral

Question 4

Which joints in the thoracic cage are primary cartilaginous?

Answer 4

2 types:

• xiphisternal
• sternocostal for rib 1
• costochondral

Question 5

Which joints in the thoracic cage are synovial?

Answer 5

5 types (1 saddle and 4 plane):

• sternocostal for ribs 2-7 (saddle)
• interchondral (plane)
• zygapophyseal (plane)
• costovertebral (plane)
• costotransverse (plane)

Question 6

Describe the sternal joints:

Answer 6

4 sternal joints:

Manubriosternal - between manubrium and body of sternum. (secondary cartilaginous)

Xiphisternal - between body of sternum and xiphoid process (primary cartilaginous)

Sternocostal - between sternum and costal cartilages of ribs 1-7. (rib 1 - primary cartilaginous. rib 2-7: synovial plane)

Sternoclavicular -between sternum, clavicle and rib 1. (synovial saddle) supported by articular disc and 3 ligaments (interclavicular, costoclavicular and sternoclavicular)

Question 7

Describe the costovertebral joint of a typical vertebrae

Answer 7

Typical vertebrae (T2-9):

Head of rib articulates with:

• superior demifacet of same vertebrae
• inferior demifacet of vertebrae above
• IVD between vertebrae

Ligaments:

• intra articular: between crest of rib head and IVD
• radiate: fans outwards from head of rib to bodies of adjacent vertebrae and IVD between

Question 8

Describe the costotransverse joint

Answer 8

Present at ribs 1-10 only

• articulation between tubercle of rib with costal process of TPs of same vertebrae

Ligaments:

• medial: from posterior rib neck to anterior TP
• lateral: from non-articular part of tubercle to tip of TP
• superior: from superior rib neck to inferior TP of vertebrae above

Question 9

Each rib articulates with how many facets on the vertebrae (typical rib)

Answer 9

3:

• neck articulates with transverse process of same rib
• head articulates with inferior facet of rib above, and superior facet of same rib

Question 10

Where do ribs 1-7 articulate with the sternum?

Answer 10

1 -at sternoclavicular joint

2 - at costal facet of sternal angle (manubriosternal joint)

3-6: at costal facets on body of sternum

7: at xiphisternal joint