In vertebrates, thoracic vertebrae compose the middle segment of the vertebral column, between the

cervical vertebrae In tetrapods, cervical vertebrae (singular: vertebra) are the vertebrae of the neck, immediately below the skull. Truncal vertebrae (divided into thoracic and lumbar vertebrae in mammals) lie caudal (toward the tail) of cervical vertebrae. In ...

and the lumbar vertebrae. In humans, there are twelve thoracic vertebrae and they are intermediate in size between the cervical and lumbar vertebrae; they increase in size going towards the lumbar vertebrae, with the lower ones being much larger than the upper. They are distinguished by the presence of facets on the sides of the bodies for articulation with the heads of the ribs, as well as facets on the transverse processes of all, except the eleventh and twelfth, for articulation with the tubercles of the ribs. By convention, the human thoracic vertebrae are numbered T1–T12, with the first one (T1) located closest to the skull and the others going down the spine toward the lumbar region.

General characteristics

These are the general characteristics of the second through eighth thoracic vertebrae. The first and ninth through twelfth vertebrae contain certain peculiarities, and are detailed below. The

bodies Bodies may refer to: * The plural of body * ''Bodies'' (2004 TV series), BBC television programme * Bodies (upcoming TV series), an upcoming British crime thriller limited series * "Bodies" (''Law & Order''), 2003 episode of ''Law & Order'' * ...

in the middle of the thoracic region are heart-shaped and as broad in the anteroposterior as in the transverse direction. At the ends of the thoracic region they resemble respectively those of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae. They are slightly thicker behind than in front, flat above and below, convex from side to side in front, deeply concave behind, and slightly constricted laterally and in front. They present, on either side, two costal demi-facets, one above, near the root of the pedicle, the other below, in front of the inferior vertebral notch; these are covered with cartilage in the fresh state, and, when the vertebrae are articulated with one another, form, with the intervening intervertebral fibrocartilages, oval surfaces for the reception of the heads of the ribs. Thoracic vertebrae

The pedicles are directed backward and slightly upward, and the inferior vertebral notches are of large size, and deeper than in any other region of the vertebral column. The laminae are broad, thick, and imbricated – that is to say, they overlap those of subjacent vertebrae like tiles on a roof and connect with the pedicles to surround and protect the spinal cord. The intervertebral foramen is small, and circular, with two at each intervertebral level, one for the right and one for the left exiting nerve roots. The vertebral foramen is the large opening posterior to the vertebral body also known as the ''spinal canal''. It contains and protects the spinal cord at the thoracic level. The spinous process is long, triangular on coronal section, directed obliquely downward, arising from the lamina and ending in a tuberculated extremity. These processes overlap from the fifth to the eighth, but are less oblique in direction above and below. The

superior articular processes The articular processes or zygapophyses (Greek ζυγον = "yoke" (because it links two vertebrae) + απο = "away" + φυσις = "process") of a vertebra are projections of the vertebra that serve the purpose of fitting with an adjacent vertebr ...

are thin plates of bone projecting upward from the junctions of the pedicles and laminae; their articular facets are practically flat, and are directed backward and a little lateralward and upward. The inferior articular processes are fused to a considerable extent with the laminae, and project but slightly beyond their lower borders; their facets are directed forward and a little medialward and downward. The

transverse processes The spinal column, a defining synapomorphy shared by nearly all vertebrates,Hagfish are believed to have secondarily lost their spinal column is a moderately flexible series of vertebrae (singular vertebra), each constituting a characteristic i ...

arise from the arch behind the superior articular processes and pedicles; they are thick, strong, and of considerable length, directed obliquely backward and lateralward, and each ends in a clubbed extremity, on the front of which is a small, concave surface, for articulation with the tubercle of a rib.

Individual thoracic vertebrae

First thoracic vertebra (T1)

The first thoracic vertebra has, on either side of the body, an entire articular facet for the head of the first rib, and a demi-facet for the upper half of the head of the second rib. The body is like that of a cervical vertebra, being broad, concave, and lipped on either side. The superior articular surfaces are directed upward and backward; the spinous process is thick, long, and almost horizontal. The transverse processes are long, and the upper vertebral notches are deeper than those of the other thoracic vertebrae. The

thoracic spinal nerve 1 The thoracic spinal nerve 1 (T1) is a spinal nerve of the thoracic segment.American Medical Association ...

(T1) passes out underneath it.

Second thoracic vertebra (T2)

The thoracic spinal nerve 2 (T2) passes out underneath it. The second thoracic vertebra is larger than the first thoracic vertebra

Third thoracic vertebra (T3)

The thoracic spinal nerve 3 (T3) passes out underneath it.

Fourth thoracic vertebra (T4)

The fourth thoracic vertebra, together with the fifth, is at the same level as the

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. The thoracic spinal nerve 4 (T4) passes out underneath it. Spine Adult Male Age 57

Fifth thoracic vertebra (T5)

The fifth thoracic vertebra, together with the fourth, is at the same level as the

. The human trachea divides into two main bronchi at the level of the 5th thoracic vertebra, but may also end higher or lower, depending on breathing. The thoracic spinal nerve 5 (T5) passes out underneath it.

Sixth thoracic vertebra (T6)

The

thoracic spinal nerve 6 The thoracic spinal nerve 6 (T6) is a spinal nerve of the thoracic segment The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the v ...

(T6) passes out underneath it.

Seventh thoracic vertebra (T7)

The

thoracic spinal nerve 7 The thoracic spinal nerve 7 (T7) is a spinal nerve of the thoracic segment The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the ve ...

(T7) passes out underneath it.

Eighth thoracic vertebra (T8)

The eighth thoracic vertebra is, together with the ninth thoracic vertebra, at the same level as the

xiphisternum The xiphoid process , or xiphisternum or metasternum, is a small cartilaginous process (extension) of the inferior (lower) part of the sternum, which is usually ossified in the adult human. It may also be referred to as the ensiform process. Both ...

. The

thoracic spinal nerve 8 The thoracic spinal nerve 8 (T8) is a spinal nerve of the thoracic segment.thoracic spinal nerve 9 (T9) passes out underneath it. The

(or xiphoid process of the sternum) is at the same level in the axial plane.

Tenth thoracic vertebra (T10)

The tenth thoracic vertebra has an entire articular facet (not demi-facet) on either side, which is placed partly on the lateral surface of the pedicle. It doesn't have any kind of facet below, because the following ribs only have one facet on their heads. The thoracic spinal nerve 10 (T10) passes out underneath it.

Eleventh thoracic vertebra (T11)

In the eleventh thoracic vertebra the body approaches in its form and size to that of the lumbar vertebrae. The articular facets for the heads of the ribs are of medium size, and placed chiefly on the pedicles, which are thicker and stronger in this and the next vertebra than in any other part of the thoracic region. The spinous process is short, and nearly horizontal in direction. The transverse processes are very short, tuberculated at their extremities, and do not have articular facets. The

thoracic spinal nerve 11 The thoracic spinal nerve 11 (T11) is a spinal nerve of the thoracic segment.thoracic spinal nerve 12 The thoracic spinal nerve 12 (T12) is a spinal nerve of the thoracic segment. It originates from the spinal column from below the thoracic vertebra 12 (T12). It may also be known as the subcostal nerve The subcostal nerve (anterior division of ...

(T12) passes out underneath it.

Other animals

In other animals the number of thoracic vertebrae can vary greatly; for example, most marsupials have 13, but koalas have only 11. 12 to 15 is common among

mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...

s, with 18 to 20 in horses, tapirs, rhinoceroses, and elephants, and extremes in mammals are marked by certain sloths with 25 and

cetacea Cetacea (; , ) is an infraorder of aquatic mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Key characteristics are their fully aquatic lifestyle, streamlined body shape, often large size and exclusively carnivorous diet. They propel them ...

ns with 9.Hyman (1922), p.124

Additional images

File:Thoracic vertebrae animation.gif, Position of thoracic vertebrae. Animation. File:Thoracic vertebrae animation2.gif, Same as the left, but bones around the thoracic vertebrae are shown as semi-transparent. Human thoracic vertebra.stl, 3D image File:Thoracic vertebrae - close-up - animation3.gif, Animation showing the shape of thoracic vertebrae. File:Thoracic vertebrae lateral7.png, Lateral surface of the thoracic vertebrae. Right half of the thoracic skeleton is not shown. File:Illu vertebral column.svg, Vertebral column. File:Gray_111_-_Vertebral_column-coloured.png, Vertebral column. File:Gray303.png, Vertebral arches of three thoracic vertebrae viewed from the front. File:Gray314.png, Section of the costotransverse joints from the third to the ninth inclusive. File:Gray82.png, A typical thoracic vertebra, viewed from above. File:Vertebra toracica.JPG, A thoracic vertebra, viewed from above. File:Vertebra toracica inf.JPG, A thoracic vertebra, viewed from below.

References

External links

Interactive tool to identify parts
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{{Authority control Bones of the thorax Bones of the vertebral column