This document lists various anatomical structures and their relationships to specific vertebral levels in the body. Some key points include: - The bifurcation of the common carotid artery occurs at C4, while the beginning of the esophagus and trachea occur at C6. - The brachiocephalic trunk bifurcates at the sternoclavicular joint. - The aortic arch begins at T3/4 and ends at T4/5. - The thoracic duct crosses from right to left at T5. - The inferior vena cava and right phrenic nerve enter the diaphragm at T8. - The abdominal aorta bifurcates into the common i

1. Vertebra Levels
C4 Bifurcation of common carotid = upper border of thyroid cartilage
C5
C6 Beginning of oesophagus
Beginning of trachea
Vertebral artery enters foramina transversaria
C7 Vertebra prominens
Sterno- Bifurcation of the RIGHT brachiocephalic trunk
clavicular Union of the internal jugular and subclavian vein to brachiocephalic vein
joints (on both sides)
T1
T2 Superior border of scapula
T2/3 Suprasternal notch
Level of 1st rib at the front (T1 at the back)
T3 Medial end of spine of scapula
End of pre-vertebral fascia
Posterior end of oblique fissure of lung (to 6th costal cart)
(transverse/horiz. fissure || to 4th costal cartilage to 5th rib mid-axillary)
(costodiaphragmatic recess 8th-10th rib mid-axillary line)
T3/4 Top of aortic arch
T4
T4/5 Sternomanubrial joint
Start/end of aortic arch
Bifurcation of trachea at carina
Bifurcation of pulmonary trunk?
T5 Thoracic duct crosses from right to left
T6
T7 Inferior angle of scapula
T8 IVC and right phrenic nerve enter diaphragm, left phrenic separate
Hemiazygos vein crosses to left
T9 ant. Hiatus:
Superior epigastric artery and vein through diaphragm
T10 Site for epidural
Oesphagus, left gastric a, vagus pass through diaphragm
T11
T12 Aorta, hemi/azygos veins and thoracic duct pass behind diaphragm
Coeliac axis
Splanchnic nerves pierce crura
Sympathetic trunk passes into abdomen
L1 End of spinal cord / conus medullaris
Transpyloric plane!
Superior mesenteric artery comes off aorta
L1/2 Azygos vein forms from right subcostal and ascending lumbar veins
L2 Left crus of diaphragm inserts into body of L1+L2
Start of small intestine mesentery
L3 Right crus of diaphram inserts into body of L1+L2+L3
Inferior mesenteric artery comes off aorta
L3/4 Site for lumbar puncture
height of umbilicus
L4 Abdominal aorta bifurcates
Iliac crest and supracristal plane
L5 IVC formed from common iliac veins
L6/S1 Bifurcation of common iliac arteries (pelvic brim?)
S1
S2 End of dural sac of spinal cord, lumbar cistern
Axis of sacrum, midpoint of sacro-iliac joint
Lower attachment of small bowel mesentery
S3 Start of rectum
C. Riedinger 2011