The thoracic spine consists of 12 vertebrae located between the cervical and lumbar regions. Each thoracic vertebra has a heart-shaped body with demi-facets that articulate with the ribs. They also have transverse processes with costal facets that connect to the ribs. The thoracic region has a natural kyphotic curvature and supports the rib cage. Common spinal conditions that affect the thoracic region include kyphosis, Scheuermann's disease, flat back, and thoracic scoliosis.

2. INTRODUCTION TO SPINE
• The vertebral column in an adult consist of 33
vertebrae arranged in 5 regions
• 7 Cervical
• 12 Thoracic
• 5 Lumbar
• 5 Sacral
• 4 Coccygeal

3. STRUCTURE OF A TYPICAL VERTEBRAE
• BODY- anteriorly,short cylinder and rounded from
side to side.
• PEDICLES-present right and left, short and
rounded,project backward and laterally.
• Pedicle is continuous,postero-medially with a
vertical plate of bone-LAMINA.
• Pedicle and Lamina- constitute a vertebral arch.
• On side of pedicles and behind by Lamina-large
VERTEBRAL FORAMEN.

4. • Backward and downward from the junction of 2
lamina- SPINOUS PROCESS.
• Passing laterally from the junction of each pedicle
and corresponding lamina-TRANSVERSE PROCESS.
• Projecting upwards from the junction of pedicle and
lamina-SUPERIOR ARTICULAR PROCESS and
projecting downward-INFERIOR ARTICULAR
PROCESS. Each process bear SUPERIOR FACET-
posteriorly and laterally and INFERIOR FACET-
anteriorly and medially.

6. THORACIC SPINE
• It is the second segment.
• Located between the cervical and lumbar
vertebral segment.
• Consist of 12 vertebrae, separated by
intervertebral disc.
• Also form part of thoracic cage.
• It lies in the upper back and provide attachment
for the ribs.
• Natural, slight kyphotic curve exist in T-spine.

7. CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES.
• Vertebral body is heart shaped.
• Presence of demi facets on the sides of body-
articulate with head of the ribs.
• Presence of costal facets on transverse
processes- articulate with tubercles of ribs.
Present on T1-T10 only.
• Spinous process- long and slant
inferiorly.(offers increased protection to the
spinal cord.)

9. SUPERIOR AND INFERIOR COSTAL
FACETS
• They are located on the sides of each vertebral
body.
• Consist of cartilage lined depression, articulate
with head of the ribs.
• Superior Facet- articulate with head of adjacent
ribs.
• Inferior Facet-articulate with the head of the rib
below.
• T2-T9- demi facets and atypical vertebrae possess
whole facets

11. ATYPICAL VERTEBRAE
• T1- Superior facet is not a demifacet,as this is
the only vertebrae to articulate with 1st rib.

12. • T10- a single pair of whole facets is present
which articulate with the 10th ribs. Facets are
located across both the vertebral body and
the pedicles.
• T11 and T12- each have a single pair of entire
costal facets, which are located on the
pedicles.

14. JOINTS
• Articulation between vertebrae and ribs are
unique to the thoracic spine.
• For each rib there are 2 separate articulation
1.costovertebral
2.costotransverse

15. COSTOVERTEBRAL JOINT
• Head of rib articulate with
1.Superior costal facet of corresponding
vertebrae.
2.Inferior costal facet of the superior vertebrae.
3.Intervertebral disc
Within this joint, the intra-articular ligament
of head of the rib attaches the rib head to the
intervertebral disc.

16. COSTOTRANSVERSE JOINT
• Articulation of transverse process of a thoracic
vertebrae and the tubercle of the adjacent
ribs.
• Present in all vertebrae except T11 and T12

17. LIGAMENTS
The thoracic spine is strengthened by the presence of
numerous ligaments.
PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN

18. LIGAMENT
UNIQUE TO THORACIC SPINE
• RADIATE LIGAMENT OF HEAD OF RIB-head of rib to the bodies
of 2 vertebrae and intervertebral disc.
• COSTOTRANSVERSE LIGAMENT-neck of the rib to transverse
process.
• LATERAL COSTOTRANSVERSE LIGAMENT-transverse process to
the tubercle of the rib.
• SUPERIOR COSTOTRANSVERSE LIGAMENT-upper border of the
neck of the rib to the transverse process of the vertebrae
superior to it.

19. MUSCLES
• Thoracic vertebrae provide points of attachment of
numerous muscles;

20. BIOMECHANICS OF THORACIC SPINE

21. KINETICS
The thoracic region is subjected to increased
compression forces in comparison with the cervical
region because of the greater amount of body
weight that needs to be supported and the region’s
kyphotic shape.

22. The LOG falls anterior to
the thoracic spine. This
produces a flexion moment
on the thoracic spine that
is counteracted by the
posterior ligaments and
spinal extensors.
The greater flexion is at the
peak of the kyphosis as a
result of the increased
moment arm of the LOG.

23. KINEMATICS
• OSTEOKINEMATICS
The zygapophyseal articular
facets lie in the frontal plane
from T1-T6 and therefore
limit flexion and extension in
this region.
The articular facets in lower
thoracic region are oriented
more in the sagittal plane
and thus permit somewhat
more flexion and extension.

24. The ribs and costal joints restrict lateral flexion
in the upper and middle thoracic region, but
in the lower thoracic segments, lateral flexion
and rotation are relatively free because these
segments are not limited by the ribs.

25. • ARTHROKINEMATICS
In flexion, the body of the
superior vertebrae tilts
anteriorly, translates
anteriorly and rotates
slightly on the adjacent
inferior vertebra.
At the zygapophyseal joints,
the inferior articular facets
of the superior vertebra
slide upwards on the
superior articular facets of
the adjacent inferior
vertebra.

26. • In extension, the opposite
motions occur: the
superior vertebra tilts and
translates posteriorly and
the inferior articular facets
glide downward on the
superior articular facets of
the adjacent vertebra.

27. • In lateral flexion to the right, the right inferior articular
facets of the superior vertebra glide downward on the
right superior articular facets of the inferior vertebra.
• On the contra lateral side, the left inferior articular
facets of the superior vertebra glide upward on the left
superior articular facets of the adjacent inferior
vertebra.

28. • In axial rotation, the superior vertebra rotates on
the inferior vertebra, and the inferior articular
surfaces of the adjacent inferior vertebra.
For eg in rotation to the left, the right inferior
articular facet impacts on the right superior
articular facet of the adjacent inferior vertebra.

29. • Rotation and gliding motions occur between
the ribs and the vertebral bodies at the
costovertebral joints.

30. • A slight amount of rotation is possible between the
joint surfaces of the ribs and the transverse
processes at the upper costotransverse joints, and
more rotation is allowed in the gliding that occurs at
the lower joints(T7-T10).
• The movements at the costal joints are primarily for
ventilation of lungs but also allow for some
flexibility of the thoracic region.

31. CLINICAL ANATOMY
KYPHOSIS
-Kyphosis is a spinal disorder in which an
excessive outward curve of the spine
results in an abnormal rounding of the
upper back. The condition is sometimes
known as "roundback" or—in the case of
a severe curve—as
"hunchback." Kyphosis can occur at any
age, but is common during adolescence
-Kyphotic angle greater than 40 degrees

32. Scheurmann’s disease
Scheuermann's Disease is a
developmental disorder of
the spine. It is also known
as Calvé disease and
juvenile osteochondrosis of
the spine. Scheuermann's
disease causes the
abnormal growth of usually
the thoracic (upper back)
vertebrae.

33. Flat back
A flat back means your
pelvis is tucked in and your
lower back is straight
instead of naturally curved,
causing you to stoop
forward. People with a flat
back often find it difficult
standing for long periods.
This posture is often caused
by muscle imbalances,
which encourage you to
adopt such a position.

34. THORACIC SCOLOIOSIS
Because thoracic scoliosis affects
the region of the spine that is
connected to the ribcage, patients
who suffer from this form of the
condition often find that their
ribcage becomes
deformed/distorted as well as
their spine. Indeed, an
asymmetrical ribcage is often
among the first signs that
someone is affected by thoracic
scoliosis. Uneven shoulder height
is another frequently-seen
symptom.