Thoracic Spine & Ribs

Question 1

What are the typical thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 1

T2-T9

Question 2

Body of a typical thoracic vertebra is roughly equal in__________ and ____________ and contain costal _____________

Answer 2

Width and depth

Demifacet

Question 3

The IV disc of a typical thoracic vertebra has the ____________ ratio of disc height to vertebrae height. What does this mean?

Answer 3

Smallest

Less mobile

Question 4

A typical thoracic vertebra has ___________ facing pedicles, resulting in ________ of vertebral canal

Answer 4

Posterior

Narrowing

Question 5

The articular pillar (facet) of a typical thoracic vertebrae have facet jts that lie _______ off of the _________ plane. This allows what motions?

Answer 5

20 degrees off the frontal plane

Allows side bending and rotation and less flexion and extension

Question 6

Spinous processes of a T_ to T_ vertebra slope inferiorly.

Answer 6

5-8

Question 7

The tip of the spinous presses lies at the level of the _______ for the majority of the thoracic spine

Answer 7

Caudal vertebrae

Question 8

The joint capsules and thoracic ligaments are more _________ allowing for more ____________

Answer 8

Taut

Stability

Question 9

What vertebrae if the thoracic spine are considered atypical

Answer 9

T1, 10, 11, and 12

Question 10

How is T1 atypical

Answer 10

Has a full costal facet for rib one and a partial demifacet for rib 2

Has a typical cervical shaped body

The spinous process is long and prominent

Question 11

T1 and T12 are considered…

Answer 11

Transitional vertebrae

Question 12

How are T 10-12 atypical

Answer 12

Full costal facet instead of the demifacet

Can lack a costotransvese jt (may be present in t10)

Question 13

How many pairs of ribs enclose the thoracic cavity

Answer 13

12

Question 14

Components of the posterior end of a typical rib include

Answer 14

Head
Neck
Articular tubercle

Question 15

The _________ &___________ of the rib articulate with thoracic vertebra forming 2 _____________ joints (what are they called)

Answer 15

Head and articular tubercle

Synovial
Costovertebral and costotransverse

Question 16

Costovertebral jts permit what movement?

Answer 16

Gliding and rotation

Question 17

A Costovertebral jt of a typical thoracic vertebrae articulate…..

Answer 17

The head of the rib, 2adjacent vertebral bodies, and intervertebral disc

Question 18

The Costovertebral jt of an atypical thoracic vertebra articulate ….

Answer 18

Head of rib with one vertebral body.

Question 19

The Costovertebral jt of an atypical thoracic vertebra is ___________ mobile than that of a typical thoracic vertebra

Answer 19

More

Question 20

Costotransverse jts permit what movements?

Answer 20

Gliding and rotation

Question 21

At the costotransverse jts of T1-T6 the ________ costal facet of the transverse process and the slightly ___________ costal tubercle promote _______ movement.

Answer 21

Concave
Convex
Rotation

Question 22

The costotransverse jts of T7-T10 have a _______ articular surface which promotes ________ motion.

Answer 22

Flat

Gliding

Question 23

Which thoracic vertebra do not have costotransverse jts?

Answer 23

T11 and T12

Question 24

What are the 2 sternocostal jts and what are their articulations & movements?

Answer 24

Costochondral- anterior rib and cartilage (little movement)

Chrondosternal- medial cartilage and sternum (minimal motion (1) or small glides (2-7))

Question 25

Describe the Osteokinematics of thoracic vertebra

Answer 25

Flex (20-45) Ext (25-45) Lateral flex (20-40) Rotation (35-50)

Question 26

What limits flexion in the thoracic vertebra?

Answer 26

Tension in PLL Ligamentum flavum Interspinous ligaments Capsule of facet jt

Question 27

The spinous processes, laminae, facet jts, and tension from ALL, facet jt capsule and abdominal muscles will all limit what motion in the thoracic spine?

Answer 27

Extension

Question 28

Facets and ribs limit what motion in thoracic vertebra

Answer 28

Lateral flexion

Question 29

Rotation of the thoracic spine is limited by

Answer 29

The rib cage

Question 30

Describe the Arthrokinematics of sagittal plane movements in the facet jts of thoracic vertebra.

Answer 30

Flexion: glides superior and anterior Extension: glides inferior and posterior

Question 31

Where in the thoracic spine is sagittal movement most limited by the rigidity of the rib cage and frontal orientation of facets?

Answer 31

T1-t6

Question 32

Where is sagittal movement in the thoracic vertebra more permitted and why?

Answer 32

Lower thoracic | Facets are more sagittally oriented

Question 33

Describe the Arthrokinematics of movement of the thoracic spine in the frontal plane.

Answer 33

Sidebending: contralateral superior glide | Ipsilateral inferior glide

Question 34

Sidebending in the thoracic vertebra is restricted by _____________ approximation

Answer 34

Facet jt

Question 35

Describe the Arthrokinematics of movement of the thoracic vertebra facet jts in the transverse plane

Answer 35

Rotation Contralateral anterior glide Ipsilateral posterior glide

Question 36

In the thoracic spine, lateral flexion is coupled with some ______

Answer 36

Rotation

Question 37

How does coupling in the thoracic spine differ in the lower spine than the upper spine?

Answer 37

upper thoracic spine: same direction Lower thoracic spine: opposite direction

Question 38

Describe the Arthrokinematics of R lateral flexion at T9 and T10

Answer 38

Contralateral: T9 facet glides superior and rotates posterior on T10 Ipsilateral: T9 facet glides inferior and rotates anterior on T10

Question 39

Ventilation is caused by a change in _______________ secondary to a change in ______________.

Answer 39

Air pressure | Intrathoracic volume

Question 40

The Costovertebral and costotransverse jts create a __________________ for the ribs, allowing for __________ and ____________.

Answer 40

Single axis of rotation | Elevation and depression

Question 41

The orientation of the axis of rotation created by the Costovertebral and costotransverse jts determines what?

Answer 41

The direction of rib movement

Question 42

In the upper ribs (t1-t6) the axis of rotation is closest to the ________ plane allowing for “________________” motion

Answer 42

Frontal | Pump handle

Question 43

In the lower ribs (t7-t10) the axis of rotation for the ribs is closest to the _________ plane, allowing a “_________” motion

Answer 43

Sagittal | Bucket handle motion

Question 44

Primary axial rotators act in a _______________ relationship to create movement.

Answer 44

Force coupling

Question 45

Functions of the thoracic vertebrae and ribs.

Answer 45

Stability Base for muscles that influence the craniocervical region Protection for the thoracic organs Mechanical bellows for breathing

Question 46

Scoliosis is a deformity of the vertebral column that most often involves __________ (most common single curve has an apex in ________)

Answer 46

Thoracic vertebrae | T7-T9

Question 47

In scoliosis, a ______________ is often associated on the ___________convex side

Answer 47

Rump hump | Convex

Question 48

Scoliosis can be described as ____________ vs ___________ which can determine if PT can help or if surgery is required

Answer 48

Functional | Structural

Question 49

Which form of scoliosis would benefit from PT? Functional/structural

Answer 49

Functional

Question 50

What is hyperkyphosis and what can cause it?

Answer 50

Excessive thoracic kyphosis | Due to: trauma, abnormal growth/development of vertebrae, severe DDD (degenerative disc disease) or marked ostoporosis

Question 51

Hyperkyphosis significantly increases _______________ compression. Why is this concerning?

Answer 51

Interbody joint tilt/compression Can result in a compression fracture