What is the thoracic spine?

The thoracic spine is an area in the upper center of the spine, which contains 12 vertebrae known as the thoracic vertebra. These vertebrae are referred to with the initial "T" and the number reflecting their position in the spine, with the T-1 is the highest thoracic vertebra and T-12 the lowest. The vertebral size increases on the back, while the lower thoracic spine is wider than the upper thoracic spine. This spine area performs a number of important functions in the body. In the case of thoracic spine, vertebrae provide articulation points for ribs. The spinal cord, ribs and thoracic wheels together form a solid cage that protects the chest content. When people fall, are compressed or otherwise endangered, these bones are designed to limit the damage to the chest content, maintaining heart and lung function. These nerves are based on individual vertebrae and provide route for signals from the brain to reach the rest of the body, while the entrance from the body is sent back along the nerves to the brain.

The thoracic spine is most common when people fall, involved in car accidents, or keep wounds to the wound on the spine, as can be seen when people are hit from behind. Injuries may include fractures, with compression fractures caused by particularly normal pressure on the spine. The thoracic spine can also be dislocated in some types of injuries. The spine damage can, in turn, push nerves and in some cases lead to permanent loss of sensation or paralysis for patient.

Degenerative conditions can also attack this part of the spine. Arthritis and other joint conditions may disrupt vertebrae and discs that provide a pillow between the vertebrae, can be compressed and thin over time. Conditions such as scoliosis and kyphosis may include the thoracic spine.

The diagnosis and treatment of spine disorders usually require medical imaging studies to explore the spine. Patients may need braces to repair or support the spine and in some cases surgery is required to repair vertebrae or discs.