The thoracic vertebrae are 12 circular bones that form the middle section of the vertebral column and are attached to 12 pairs of ribs to protect vital organs. The spine is made up of 33 vertebrae, and any damage to the spine can be serious as it houses the spinal cord. Injuries to the thoracic vertebrae can compromise the protection of the chest cavity.
The thoracic vertebrae are 12 small, circular bones that have a hollow center that makes them look somewhat like donuts. Vertebrae are bones; the thoracic ones form the median section of the vertebral column, also called vertebral column or dorsal bone. These 12 bones are stacked on top of each other. The thoracic vertebrae are attached to 12 pairs of ribs that wrap around the front of the body, where 10 of the 12 pairs also attach to the sternum or sternum. Protection of vital organs such as the heart and lungs is achieved by attaching the ribs to the sternum and thoracic vertebrae to form the chest cavity.
Two pairs of the 12 ribs that make up the chest cavity are unattached to the sternum; therefore, they are often described as “floating” ribs. The rib cage is the common term used to refer to this cavity that the thoracic vertebrae are a part of. The structure, support and movement of the whole body are provided by the spine, which is made up of a total of 33 vertebrae that form a chain in the middle of the back. Such a design allows for some flexibility. A person can bend and tilt their torso to one side and to the front or back because the spine is flexible.
There are five sections or divisions of the spine, starting at the base of the skull and extending to the coccyx or coccyx. Seven vertebrae make up the first division, which is referred to as the cervical spine or neck bone. These sit atop the second division, which is the thoracic spine. After the thoracic spine is the lumbar spine, which is made up of five vertebrae. Next is the sacral spine made up of five vertebrae, and finally is the coccyx, made up of four vertebrae for a total of 33 small bones.
Any damage to the spine is potentially very serious because the vertebrae collectively form the housing of the spinal cord, an extension of the central nervous system. The brain sends and receives vital information through the spinal cord. Movement, sensation, and vital functions such as breathing involve the spinal cord. If it is even slightly damaged, especially the cervical division, paralysis or death could result because breathing and heartbeat could be affected.
Although the most easily damaged divisions of the spine are the cervical and lumbar, the thoracic vertebrae can sustain serious injury in side-impact automobile collisions. The entire spine can be violently thrown to one side of the body, resulting in injuries that may affect the spinal cord. Injuries to the thoracic vertebrae could compromise the protection the chest cavity offers for organs such as the heart, lungs, and large arteries and veins.
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