Anatomy study note · Back
Thoracic vertebrae
The twelve vertebrae that carry the ribs. Typical thoracic vertebrae (T2 to T8) have costal facets on the bodies and on the transverse processes.
Key points
- Carry ribs: costal facets on bodies + transverse processes.
- T2–T8: superior and inferior demifacets.
- T1: full facet (rib 1) + demifacet (rib 2). T11, T12: full facets, no transverse facets.
- Small canal → cord badly damaged in thoracic fracture dislocations.
- Vertebra = caudal half of one sclerotome + cranial half of the next.
- Spina bifida: neural arch halves fail to fuse.
- Bone: type I collagen + hydroxyapatite.
- Osteoblast builds, osteocyte maintains, osteoclast resorbs.
The full note in the atlas also covers
Features · Articulations · Histology · Development · Clinical notes
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Written from
- Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions, 10th ed., ch. 4, PDF pp. 485–486; ch. 2, PDF pp. 128–129, 184
- Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology, ch. 10, PDF pp. 134–137, 138
- BRS Cell Biology & Histology, 7th ed., ch. 7, PDF pp. 121–125, 130
More from the back
- Thoracolumbar fascia
- Vertebral column
- Atlas (C1)
- Axis (C2)
- Cervical vertebrae
- Deep muscles of the back
- Intervertebral discs
- Ligaments of the vertebral column
- Lumbar vertebrae
- Spinal cord
- Spinal nerves
- Suboccipital muscles
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