How many thoracic vertebrae articulate with ribs

See Kyphosis Causes and Treatment. Thoracic vertebrae can become painful in other ways, such as from infection or other forms of arthritis. You are here Conditions Upper Back Pain. Thoracic Vertebrae and the Rib Cage share pin it Newsletters. Peer Reviewed. Scoliosis Symptoms Save. Next Page: Thoracic Discs. It extends from the skull to the coccyx and includes the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions. The spine has several major roles in the body that include: protection of the spinal cord and branching spinal nerves, support for thorax and abdomen, and enables flexibility and mobility of the body.

The intervertebral discs are responsible for this mobility without sacrificing the supportive strength of the vertebral column. The thoracic region contains 12 vertebrae, denoted T1-T The intervertebral discs, along with the laminae, pedicles, and articular processes of adjacent vertebrae, create a space through which spinal nerves exit. The thoracic vertebrae, as a group, produce a kyphotic curve. Thoracic vertebrae are unique in that they have the additional role of providing attachments for the ribs.

Typical vertebrae consist of a vertebral body, a vertebral arch, as well as seven processes. The body bears the majority of the force placed on the vertebrae. Vertebral bodies increase in size from superior to inferior.

The vertebral body consists of a trabecular bone, which contains the red marrow, surrounded by a thin external layer of compact bone. The arch, along with the posterior aspect of the body, forms the vertebral spinal canal, which contains the spinal cord. The arch consists of bilateral pedicles, cylindrical segments of bone that connect the arch to the body, and bilateral lamina, bone segments form most of the arch, connecting the transverse and spinous processes.

A typical vertebra also contains four articular processes, two superior and two inferior, which contact the inferior and superior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae, respectively. This region articulates primarily with the costal facet located on the body of the same numbered thoracic vertebra and to a lesser degree, with the costal facet located on the body of the next higher vertebra. Lateral to the head is the narrowed neck of the rib. A small bump on the posterior rib surface is the tubercle of the rib , which articulates with the facet located on the transverse process of the same numbered vertebra.

The remainder of the rib is the body of the rib shaft. Just lateral to the tubercle is the angle of the rib , the point at which the rib has its greatest degree of curvature. The angles of the ribs form the most posterior extent of the thoracic cage.

In the anatomical position, the angles align with the medial border of the scapula. A shallow costal groove for the passage of blood vessels and a nerve is found along the inferior margin of each rib. The bony ribs do not extend anteriorly completely around to the sternum. Instead, each rib ends in a costal cartilage.

These cartilages are made of hyaline cartilage and can extend for several inches. Most ribs are then attached, either directly or indirectly, to the sternum via their costal cartilage see Figure 7. The ribs are classified into three groups based on their relationship to the sternum. Ribs 1—7 are classified as true ribs vertebrosternal ribs.

The costal cartilage from each of these ribs attaches directly to the sternum. Ribs 8—12 are called false ribs vertebrochondral ribs. The costal cartilages from these ribs do not attach directly to the sternum. For ribs 8—10, the costal cartilages are attached to the cartilage of the next higher rib. Thus, the cartilage of rib 10 attaches to the cartilage of rib 9, rib 9 then attaches to rib 8, and rib 8 is attached to rib 7.

The last two false ribs 11—12 are also called floating ribs vertebral ribs. These are short ribs that do not attach to the sternum at all. Instead, their small costal cartilages terminate within the musculature of the lateral abdominal wall. It is composed of 12 pairs of ribs with their costal cartilages and the sternum.

The ribs are anchored posteriorly to the 12 thoracic vertebrae. The sternum consists of the manubrium, body, and xiphoid process. The manubrium and body are joined at the sternal angle, which is also the site for attachment of the second ribs.

Ribs are flattened, curved bones and are numbered 1— Posteriorly, the head of the rib articulates with the costal facets located on the bodies of thoracic vertebrae and the rib tubercle articulates with the facet located on the vertebral transverse process.

The angle of the ribs forms the most posterior portion of the thoracic cage. The costal groove in the inferior margin of each rib carries blood vessels and a nerve. Anteriorly, each rib ends in a costal cartilage.