T12

The thoracic vertebrae form the thoracic spine, a slightly dorsoconvex bony rod, characterized by its limited flexibility. The main differences between other vertebrae (cervical and lumbar) are:

• Articulations with the ribs that correspond in number
• Short bodies with flattened extremities
• Short articular processes
• Vertebral arches closely fitting (no real interarcual spaces)
• Long spinous process
• Costal facets on the transverse processes and cranial and caudal costal fovea on the extremities of the vertebral bodies