Unit 2 - VI. Regions of the Vertebral Column: Thoracic or Dorsal Region

Question 1

Which thoracic segments are considered the typical thoracics?

Answer 1

T2-T8 segments

Question 2

Which thoracic segments are considered the atypical thoracics?

Answer 2

T1, T9-T12

Question 3

What features will allow discrimination between T2-T4 and T5-T8 segmental groups?

Answer 3

the vertebral body, transverse process, articular process and spinous process

Question 4

What is the outline of the vertebral body of a typical thoracic from superior view?

Answer 4

triangular

Question 5

On cranial view, what is the outline of the vertebral body for the T2-T4 group?

Answer 5

the vertebral body will have bilaterally convex sides

Question 6

On cranial view, what is the outline of the vertebral body for the T5-T8 group?

Answer 6

the left side of the vertebral body will be flattened, the right side convex

Question 7

What is the appearance of the vertebral body from the anterior view for T2-T4?

Answer 7

both sides will appear to be scalloped (indented) between the epiphyseal rims

Question 8

What is the appearance of the vertebral body from the anterior view for T5-T8?

Answer 8

the left side will appear to be less scalloped (indented) between the epiphyseal rims compared to the right side

Question 9

What is the cause for the flattening of the left side of the vertebral body on T5-T8?

Answer 9

The descending thoracic aorta will come to lie on the left side of the vertebral body in this region and prevent the epiphyseal plate cartilage from deforming as much as on the right side. When the epiphyseal plates ossify, the epiphyseal rim will not be pushed out as far on the left so that side of the vertebral body appears to be less scalloped.

Question 10

What is the name given to the left side appearance of the vertebral body of T5-T8?

Answer 10

the aortic impression

Question 11

What is the aortic impression?

Answer 11

the flattening of the superior and inferior epiphyseal rims on the left side of the vertebral body of T5-T8 which gives the vertebral body a less scalloped or less indented appearance on that side

Question 12

What part of the vertebral body is most influenced by the aorta at T5-T8?

Answer 12

the left side superior and inferior epiphyseal rims

Question 13

What is the height pattern of the typical thoracic vertebral body?

Answer 13

the posterior height is greater than the anterior height by one to two millimeters

Question 14

What is the height pattern of intervertebral discs in the typical thoracic region?

Answer 14

the intervertebral discs are rather planar or flat with no apparent height difference between anterior and posterior heights

Question 15

What is the principal cause of the posterior curve of the thoracic spine?

Answer 15

the vertebral body height differences

Question 16

In terms of the anterior-posterior curves of the vertebral column, what direction will the thoracic spine face?

Answer 16

posterior

Question 17

What is another way of naming a posterior curve pattern?

Answer 17

a kyphotic curve

Question 18

What joints are identified at the vertebral body of a typical thoracic?

Answer 18

• vertebral body to anterior longitudinal ligament at the epiphyseal rims
• vertebral body to posterior longitudinal ligament at the epiphyseal rims
• vertebral body to vertebral body via the intervertebral discs
• vertebral body to capitulum of a rib (costocentral joint)

Question 19

What joint classifications are identified at the vertebral body of a typical thoracic?

Answer 19

fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis, cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis and synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia)

Question 20

What are the examples of fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joints at the vertebral body of a typical thoracic?

Answer 20

• superior and inferior epiphyseal rim to anterior longitudinal ligament
• superior and inferior epiphyseal rim to posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 21

What are the examples of cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis joints at the vertebral body of a typical thoracic?

Answer 21

• superior epiphyseal rim to intervertebral disc

- inferior epiphyseal rim to intervertebral disc

Question 22

What are the examples of synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia) joints at the vertebral body of a typical thoracic?

Answer 22

• right and left superior costal demi-facet to inferior articular surface of the rib head
• right and left inferior costal demi-facet to superior articular surface of the rib head

Question 23

How many synovial joints are formed at the vertebral body of a typical thoracic?

Answer 23

four

Question 24

How many symphysis joints are formed with the vertebral body of a typical thoracic?

Answer 24

two

Question 25

How many syndesmosis joints are formed at the vertebral body of a typical thoracic?

Answer 25

typically four are identified (as many as eight if the costocentral stellate/radiate ligaments are included)

Question 26

How many joints are formed at the ventral body of a typical thoracic?

Answer 26

typically ten (fourteen if the costocentral stellate/radiate ligaments are included)

Question 27

What is the name given to the joint formed between the vertebral body and rib?

Answer 27

costocentral joint

Question 28

How many costocentral joints are formed at the vertebral body of a typical thoracic?

Answer 28

four

Question 29

What synovial joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of a typical thoracic?

Answer 29

the right and left superior and the right and left inferior costal demi-facets

Question 30

What is the relationship between the vertebral body surface and the rib head surface in the costocentral joint of a typical thoracic?

Answer 30

- the superior costal demi-facet of the vertebral body will joint with the inferior articular surface of the head of the rib - the inferior costal demi-facet of the vertebral body will joint with the superior articular surface of the head of the rib

Question 31

Which of the demi-facets on the vertebral body of a typical thoracic is larger?

Answer 31

the superior costal demi-facet

Question 32

What feature will provide assistance in maintaining the stability of the intervertebral foramen in the typical thoracics?

Answer 32

the costocentral joint or ribs

Question 33

What is the rib-vertebral body combination at the intervertebral foramen for the ___ nerve? Let's use the T6 nerve.

Answer 33

- the inferior costal demi-facet of T6 will joint with the superior articular surface of the head of the seventh rib - the superior costal demi-facet of T7 will joint with the inferior articular surface of the head of the seventh rib

Question 34

What ligaments support the costocentral joint?

Answer 34

the costocentral stellate/radiate ligament and the costocentral interarticular or intra-articular ligament

Question 35

To what structures will the costocentral stellate/radiate ligament attach?

Answer 35

the head of the rib, both vertebral bodies in the vertebral couple and the intervertebral disc

Question 36

The costocentral stellate/radiate ligament will attach to which segment(s) at the T3 spinal nerve intervertebral foramen?

Answer 36

the vertebral body of T3 and the vertebral body of T4

Question 37

What does the costocentral intra-articular or interarticular ligament connect to?

Answer 37

the interarticular or intra-articular crest of the head of the rib and the intervertebral disc

Question 38

What is the size relationship between the articulating surface of the head of the rib and the costal demi-facet surface?

Answer 38

the rib surface is greater than the costal demi-facet surface

Question 39

Which muscle(s) is attached to the vertebral body of T2 or T3?

Answer 39

the longus colli

Question 40

What is the position and direction of the pedicle from the typical thoracic vertebral body?

Answer 40

the pedicle arises from the upper third of the vertebral body and projects posterior and slightly laterally

Question 41

What is the angulation of the pedicle in the typical thoracic region?

Answer 41

ten to fifteen degrees posterolateral from the sagittal plane

Question 42

Which X-ray view is used to see into the intervertebral foramen of a typical thoracic?

Answer 42

the lateral view

Question 43

Which vertebral notch or incisure is said to be prominent?

Answer 43

the inferior vertebral notch or inferior vertebral incisure

Question 44

What is the nerve-vertebral body relationship at the typical thoracic intervertebral foramen?

Answer 44

in the intervertebral foramen, the number of the nerve is the same as the number of the upper thoracic in the vertebral couple

Question 45

What is the rib-vertebral body relationship at the typical thoracic intervertebral foramen?

Answer 45

in the intervertebral foramen, the number of the rib is the same as the number of the lower thoracic in the vertebral couple

Question 46

What is the appearance and position of the lamina in a typical thoracic?

Answer 46

the lamina is short, broad and thick and lies next to the spinous process

Question 47

What is overlap of the lamina called in the typical thoracic region?

Answer 47

shingling

Question 48

What is the outline of the vertebral foramen in the typical thoracic region?

Answer 48

oval to circular

Question 49

In which plane will the size of the vertebral foramen of a typical thoracic be greatest?

Answer 49

the transverse plane, the vertebral transverse diameter

Question 50

What is the direction of the transverse process in the typical thoracics?

Answer 50

the transverse process projects more posterior with each inferior vertebra

Question 51

What is present at the tip of the transverse process of a typical thoracic?

Answer 51

the transverse tubercle

Question 52

What is the distance between the transverse tubercles in the typical thoracic region?

Answer 52

from T2 each transverse diameter becomes shorter as the transverse processes angle more posterior

Question 53

What is present on the transverse tubercle of a typical thoracic?

Answer 53

the transverse costal facet

Question 54

What is the rib-transverse process relationship for the typical thoracics?

Answer 54

the number of the rib is the same as the number of the vertebra whose transverse process is being studied; fifth rib with T5 transverse process

Question 55

What is the orientation of the transverse costal facets for T2-T6?

Answer 55

they face forward and outward

Question 56

What is the orientation of the transverse costal facets for T7-T8?

Answer 56

they face forward, outward, and upward

Question 57

What is the classification of the costotransverse joint?

Answer 57

synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia) joint

Question 58

What are the osseous parts of the costotransverse joint?

Answer 58

the transverse costal facet and the articular surface of the tubercle of a rib

Question 59

What ligaments support the costotransverse joint of a typical thoracic?

Answer 59

the superior costotransverse, inferior costotransverse, and lateral costotransverse ligaments

Question 60

The superior costotransverse ligament of rib five will attach to which vertebral feature?

Answer 60

the transverse process of T4

Question 61

The superior costotransverse ligament of the transverse process of T4 will attach to rib ___.

Answer 61

five

Question 62

The inferior costotransverse ligament of rib five will attach to which vertebral feature?

Answer 62

the transverse process of T5

Question 63

The inferior costotransverse ligament of the transverse process of T5 will attach to rib ___.

Answer 63

five

Question 64

The lateral costotransverse ligament of rib five will attach to which segmental bony feature?

Answer 64

the transverse process of T5

Question 65

The lateral costotransverse ligament of the transverse process of T5 will attach to rib ___.

Answer 65

five

Question 66

What ligaments attach to the transverse process of a typical thoracic?

Answer 66

intertransverse, capsular costotransverse, superior costotransverse, inferior costotransverse and lateral costotransverse ligaments

Question 67

Which joint classification is associated with the intertransverse, superior costotransverse, inferior costotransverse and lateral costotransverse ligaments?

Answer 67

fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint

Question 68

Which muscles may attach to the transverse process of a typical thoracic?

Answer 68

- longissimus thoracis - longissimus cervicis - longissimus capitis - semispinalis thoracis - semispinalis cervicis - semispinalis capitis - multifidus - rotator longus - rotator brevis - intertransversarii - levator costarum longus - levator costarum brevis

Question 69

Of the muscles attaching to the transverse process of typical thoracics, which ones will attach only to the T5-T8 vertebral segments?

Answer 69

semispinalis thoracis and levator costarum longus