Thoracic Spine

Question 1

ROM and Muscles causing movement

Answer 1

Flexion- 20-45 (Gravity, psoas minor, Rectus abdominals, oblique muscles)
Extension- 25-45 (Trapezius, D+S erector spine, Quadratus lumborum)
Rotation- 35-50 (D erector spinae, levator costorum, obliques)
Sidebending- 20-40 (quadrates lumborum, obliques, superficial ES, psoas major)

Question 2

Costovertebral joints

Answer 2

Between ribs and vertebral bodies
– Ribs 1, 10, 11 and 12 articulate with a single vertebrae
– Ribs 2-9 articulate with 2 adjacent vertebrae’s

synovial plane joint

main ligament:
- radiate lig-
– joins anterior aspect of the head of the rib radiating to the sides of the vertebral bodies and disc in between
– essentially holds the costovertebral joint in place

Question 3

Main ligament of the costovertebral joint

Answer 3

Radiate ligament
- Holds the costovertebral ligament in place

Question 4

Costotransverse joints

Answer 4

Between ribs and TP’s of the vertebrae of the same level 1-10 ribs
Ribs 11-12 dont articulate with TP’s so the costotransverse ligaments dont exist on 11 and 12

supported by 3 ligaments:
- superior costotransvere ligament:
– lower border of TP above to upper border of rib and its neck

• costotransverse ligament:
  – between neck of rib and the TP at the same level
• Lateral costotransverse ligament:
  – tip of the TP to the adjacent rib

Question 5

Costochondral joints

Answer 5

Lie in-between ribs and costal cartilage

Question 6

Chondrosternal joints

Answer 6

Found between costal cartilage and the sternum (connects them together)

joints 2-6 are synovial, whereas 1st costal cartilage is united with the sternum by a synchondrosis.

Synovial interchondral joint- when the rib articulates with an adjacent rib or costal cartilage (ribs 5-9)
– covered by an interchondral ligament

Question 7

Facet articulation

Answer 7

Coronal 60 degrees
T1- classed as transitional vertebra due to superior costal facet of T1 being similar to a facet of the CSP.

T11 and T12 are classified as transitional, and the facets of these vertebrae become positioned in a way similar to those of the lumbar facets.

Superior costal facets- a site where a rib forms a joint at the top of a vertebrae

Question 8

Vertebrae size

Answer 8

Vertebrae increase in size from T1-T3, and then progressively in size to T12.

Question 9

Ribs

Answer 9

Ribs 1-7: articulate with sternum and are classed as true ribs.
Ribs 8-10: joins directly with the costal cartilage of the rib above. False ribs.
Ribs 11-12: articulate only with vertebral bodies, and not with the TP’s nor with the costocartilage of the rib above.

Question 10

Rib movement

Answer 10

Pump handle-
– Ribs 1-6
– Accompanied by elevation of the manubrium sternum upward and forward.

Bucket handle-
– Ribs 7-10
– mainly increase in lateral, or transverse, dimension

Calliper:
– Ribs 11 and 12 (occurs at 8-12 as well)
– moves laterally in a calliper movement.

Ribs are quite elastic in children, but they become increasingly brittle with age.
In the anterior half of the chest, the ribs are subcutaneous; in the posterior half they are covered by muscles.