Definition

Noun: A thoracic vertebra is one of the twelve bones that form the middle segment of the vertebral column (spine) in humans. These vertebrae are situated between the cervical (neck) vertebrae and the lumbar (lower back) vertebrae. Their primary function is to provide attachment points for the ribs.

Usage

The term is used in anatomical, medical, and biological contexts to specify a particular region of the spine. - The surgeon examined the imaging to assess the fracture in the thoracic vertebra. - In humans, each thoracic vertebra articulates with a pair of ribs.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Context: Often discussed in relation to conditions like kyphosis (excessive curvature), fractures, or herniated discs.
  • Osteoporosis can lead to compression fractures of the thoracic vertebra.
• Comparative Anatomy: Used when describing the spinal structure of other vertebrates.
  • The number of thoracic vertebrae varies among mammalian species.

Variants and Related Words

• Thoracic vertebrae (plural noun): The collective term for all twelve bones in this spinal region.
  • The thoracic vertebrae are less flexible than the cervical vertebrae.
• Thoracic (adjective): Pertaining to the chest or thorax.
  • The thoracic cavity contains the heart and lungs.

Synonyms

• Dorsal vertebra (an older, less specific term sometimes used interchangeably, though "thoracic" is now standard in human anatomy).

Related Phrases

• T-spine: An informal medical abbreviation for the thoracic spine.
  • The MRI shows a lesion in the T-spine, specifically at T7. (Here, T7 refers to the seventh thoracic vertebra).

Noun

1. one of 12 vertebrae in the human vertebral column; thoracic vertebrae extend from the seventh cervical vertebra down to the first lumbar vertebra