Thoracic Spine

• The thoracic spine consists of 12 vertebrae and 12 thoracic spinal nerve pairs, which exit the spinal canal below their respective vertebrae.

• The thoracic vertebral region displays kyphosis (convex posteriorly / curves outward).

• The thoracic spine can be identified based on the presence of ribs, which articulate with the thoracic spine at 2 locations; the costal facets (located on lateral vertebral bodies) and the articular facets for the tubercle of the rib (located on the transverse spinal processes.

• T1 and T12 can be quickly identified on radiology images by locating the 1st and 12th ribs, which connect to T1 and T12, respectively

• Thoracic vertebrae have smaller vertebral foramina compared to the cervical and lumbar regions because the thoracic spinal cord is the narrowest segment of the spinal cord (due to the cervical nerves branching off superiorly).