Thoracic spine
Learning objectives
After completing this study unit you will be able to:
- Identify and name each vertebra of the thoracic spine.
- Describe the features of a typical thoracic vertebra.
- Name the articulations of the thoracic vertebrae and their associated ligaments.
Watch video
The thoracic spine consists of 12 vertebrae, designated T1-T12 from superior to inferior. Eight thoracic vertebrae, T2-T9 are the typical vertebrae, while the remaining four are atypical.
The twelve thoracic vertebrae display most of the features of a typical vertebra, including vertebral body, vertebral arch and several processes. Together they create an anteriorly concave curvature, which is referred to as a kyphosis.
The exclusive feature of the thoracic vertebrae is that each of them articulates with a pair of ribs at costovertebral joints and thus allow the formation of the rib cage - the skeletal framework of the thorax.
Watch the following video to take a closer look at the thoracic spine and compare its anatomical features with those of the lumbar spine.
Take a quiz
Test yourself on your newly acquired knowledge with the quiz below.
Are you looking for an extra challenge? Try out the quiz below, which you can also customize yourself, to focus on more specific topics!
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/3565/iBAXnj77CjyZAk6er7L6A_typical-thoracic-vertebra_english.jpg){kind=logo}
Take a closer look at all of the features of the thoracic vertebrae in the gallery below.
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/thoracic-vertebrae/1fBUPWbpvDDwMRYg92FLRw_j7LbfxmYrP_Vertebrae_thoracicae_02.png "Thoracic vertebrae (Vertebrae thoracicae); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/corpus-vertebrae/tCbG1lkdKw1rtqzGxuQ_zGDCz3nDo7_Corpus_vertebrae_1.png "Vertebral body (Corpus vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/foramen-vertebrale/zVO4VkAgsNvrSYUe05A6gQ_ieHsssMDJ9_Foramen_vertebrale_1.png "Vertebral foramen (Foramen vertebrale); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/pediculus-arcus-vertebrae/rbzfiLuPB0lDAffAs1arg_7zK9equbpC_Pediculus_arcus_vertebrae_1.png "Pedicle of vertebral arch (Pediculus arcus vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lamina-arcus-vertebrae/4XljarX2zaxxUyh8xGaDOA_i6PyaimZKg_Lamina_arcus_vertebrae_1.png "Lamina of vertebral arch (Lamina arcus vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/processus-spinosus/c1kf0WxXzuloXnIefQLqAg_Wxg5KxHxps_Processus_spinosus_1.png "Spinous process of vertebra (Processus spinosus vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/processus-transversus/qwGpSXFRbnLZj7nRPtNJdg_Transverse_process.png "Transverse process of vertebra (Processus transversus vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/fovea-costalis-processus-transversi/PwDPWRJW7j0kaRhXhgB8g_Rs6cBJNYJZ_Fovea_costalis_processus_transversi_1.png "Costal facet of transverse process (Fovea costalis processus transversi); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/superior-costal-fovea/M1KZSnnfHl2MvL0l8BrBA_Uoco2xxRZH_Fovea_costalis_superior_2.png "Superior costal facet of vertebra (Fovea costalis superior vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/fovea-costalis-inferior/b2K1YwxgRCGDNLtLwWzQ_WDGg2xkqfq_Fovea_costalis_inferior_1.png "Inferior costal facet of vertebra (Fovea costalis inferior vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/superior-articular-process/XNUrS2SSyEa7axvaVvx9WQ_Processus_articularis_superior_02.png "Superior articular process of vertebra (Processus articularis superior vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/superior-articular-facet-1/eoOFeoYhrymZ7b8gwSq5Q_superior_articular_facet.png "Superior articular facet of vertebra (Facies articularis superior vertebrae); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/processus-articularis-inferior/NoRztayv1Dfjdgghg9Sedg_Processus_articularis_inferior_01.png "Inferior articular process of vertebra (Processus articularis inferior vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/facies-articularis-inferior/SB7iKGpk69H5AIGMJ8SZIQ_21DBs9yxq3_Facies_articularis_inferior_1.png "Inferior articular facet of vertebra (Facies articularis inferior vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/intervertebral-joints-1/DQomuZgxUC6IavRmOvMSGw_Intervertebral_joints_5.png "Intervertebral joints (Articulationes intervertebrales); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/intervertebral-disc-4/9r3djBheCUX25bRqkdezDQ_discus_invertebralis.png "Intervertebral disc (Discus intervertebralis); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/rotation-of-the-spine/HmkJbQhBKpQSh48bMA4cQ_spine_rotation.png "Rotation of vertebral column (Rotatio columnae vertebralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Structure |
12 thoracic vertebrae Typical: T2-T9 Atypical: T1, T10-T12 |
| Typical vertebra | Body, arch, costal facets, spinous process, transverse processes, superior and inferior articular processes |
| Atypical vertebra |
T1: Features one demifacet and one full facet on each side T10: Single costal facets on each side T11, T12: Single costal facets on each side, no costotransverse joints |
| Joints |
Intervertebral symphyses: Between bodies of contiguous vertebrae Zygapophyseal joints: Between articular processes of contiguous vertebrae Costocorporeal joints: Between costal facets/demifacets of vertebral bodies and head of ribs Costotransverse joints: Between costal facets on transverse processes and tubercles of ribs |
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