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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.
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/wBIggC3J6EteJvBr7D7nqg_typical-thoracic-vertebra_en.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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/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(/logos/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/learnable/rotation-of-the-spine/HmkJbQhBKpQSh48bMA4cQ_spine_rotation.png "Rotation of vertebral column (Rotatio columnae vertebralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
Thoracic vertebrae
Vertebrae thoracicae
1/17
Synonyms:
Vertebrae T1-T12
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 |
:format(jpeg)/images/article/thoracic-vertebrae/Wc53yjIX72iBRjrZ27JiiA_discus_invertebralis.png)
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