The thoracic region typically consists of 12 vertebrae. T2 – T9 share a “typical” thoracic pattern while the other thoracic vertebrae display variations on this pattern.
See the Digital Teaching Collection for more specimens of the vertebral column. See also Cervical Vertebrae and Lumbar Vertebrae.
Typical thoracic vertebrae have a heart-shaped body, with the point of the heart facing ventrally. The bodies are flat both superiorly and inferiorly, in contrast to the interlocking bodies of cervical vertebrae. The large blunted transverse processes project laterally and dorsally. The inferiorly projecting spinous processes are long and medial-laterally compressed, terminating in a tuberosity. There are three articulations with ribs on the typical thoracic vertebra. On the body of each vertebra are superior and inferior demifacets, so called because each rib head shares its articulation across two vertebrae. The tuberosity of each rib articulates with a facet on the end of the transverse process. The vertebral bodies become noticeably larger from T1-T12. The superior and inferior articular facets are planar and are oriented coronally.
T1 differs from the typical pattern in its costal articulations. It is the only vertebra to articulation with the first rib, so it has a large, full facet on the superior border of the body. Inferiorly, it has a typical demifacet. The outline of its body is more similar to a cervical vertebra than a typical heart-shaped thoracic. The transverse processes project more laterally, and less dorsally than the processes of typical thoracic vertebrae.
Typical thoracic vertebrae have a heart-shaped body, with the point of the heart facing ventrally. The bodies are flat both superiorly and inferiorly, in contrast to the interlocking bodies of cervical vertebrae. The large blunted transverse processes project laterally and dorsally. The inferiorly projecting spinous processes are long and medial-laterally compressed, terminating in a tuberosity. There are three articulations with ribs on the typical thoracic vertebra. On the body of each vertebra are superior and inferior demifacets, so called because each rib head shares its articulation across two vertebrae. The tuberosity of each rib articulates with a facet on the end of the transverse process. The vertebral bodies become noticeably larger from T1-T12. The superior and inferior articular facets are planar and are oriented coronally.
Typical thoracic vertebrae have a heart-shaped body, with the point of the heart facing ventrally. The bodies are flat both superiorly and inferiorly, in contrast to the interlocking bodies of cervical vertebrae. The large blunted transverse processes project laterally and dorsally. The inferiorly projecting spinous processes are long and medial-laterally compressed, terminating in a tuberosity. There are three articulations with ribs on the typical thoracic vertebra. On the body of each vertebra are superior and inferior demifacets, so called because each rib head shares its articulation across two vertebrae. The tuberosity of each rib articulates with a facet on the end of the transverse process. The vertebral bodies become noticeably larger from T1-T12. The superior and inferior articular facets are planar and are oriented coronally.
Typical thoracic vertebrae have a heart-shaped body, with the point of the heart facing ventrally. The bodies are flat both superiorly and inferiorly, in contrast to the interlocking bodies of cervical vertebrae. The large blunted transverse processes project laterally and dorsally. The inferiorly projecting spinous processes are long and medial-laterally compressed, terminating in a tuberosity. There are three articulations with ribs on the typical thoracic vertebra. On the body of each vertebra are superior and inferior demifacets, so called because each rib head shares its articulation across two vertebrae. The tuberosity of each rib articulates with a facet on the end of the transverse process. The vertebral bodies become noticeably larger from T1-T12. The superior and inferior articular facets are planar and are oriented coronally.
Typical thoracic vertebrae have a heart-shaped body, with the point of the heart facing ventrally. The bodies are flat both superiorly and inferiorly, in contrast to the interlocking bodies of cervical vertebrae. The large blunted transverse processes project laterally and dorsally. The inferiorly projecting spinous processes are long and medial-laterally compressed, terminating in a tuberosity. There are three articulations with ribs on the typical thoracic vertebra. On the body of each vertebra are superior and inferior demifacets, so called because each rib head shares its articulation across two vertebrae. The tuberosity of each rib articulates with a facet on the end of the transverse process. The vertebral bodies become noticeably larger from T1-T12. The superior and inferior articular facets are planar and are oriented coronally.
Typical thoracic vertebrae have a heart-shaped body, with the point of the heart facing ventrally. The bodies are flat both superiorly and inferiorly, in contrast to the interlocking bodies of cervical vertebrae. The large blunted transverse processes project laterally and dorsally. The inferiorly projecting spinous processes are long and medial-laterally compressed, terminating in a tuberosity. There are three articulations with ribs on the typical thoracic vertebra. On the body of each vertebra are superior and inferior demifacets, so called because each rib head shares its articulation across two vertebrae. The tuberosity of each rib articulates with a facet on the end of the transverse process. The vertebral bodies become noticeably larger from T1-T12. The superior and inferior articular facets are planar and are oriented coronally.
Typical thoracic vertebrae have a heart-shaped body, with the point of the heart facing ventrally. The bodies are flat both superiorly and inferiorly, in contrast to the interlocking bodies of cervical vertebrae. The large blunted transverse processes project laterally and dorsally. The inferiorly projecting spinous processes are long and medial-laterally compressed, terminating in a tuberosity. There are three articulations with ribs on the typical thoracic vertebra. On the body of each vertebra are superior and inferior demifacets, so called because each rib head shares its articulation across two vertebrae. The tuberosity of each rib articulates with a facet on the end of the transverse process. The vertebral bodies become noticeably larger from T1-T12. The superior and inferior articular facets are planar and are oriented coronally.
©eForensics 2026