Thoracic Spine Anatomy
The thoracic spine is the central part of the spine, also called the dorsal spine, which runs from the base of the neck to the bottom of your rib cage. The thoracic spine provides the flexibility that holds the body upright and protects the organs of the chest.
The spine is made up of 24 spinal bones, called vertebrae, of which, the thoracic region of the spine is made up of 12 vertebrae (T1-T12). The vertebrae are aligned on top of one another to form the spinal cord, which gives your body its posture. The different parts of the thoracic spine include bone and joints, nerves, connective tissues, muscles, and spinal segment.
Vertebral Structures
Each vertebra is made up of a round bony structure called the vertebral body. The protective bony ring attaches to each vertebral body and surrounds the spinal cord to form the spinal canal. The bony ring is formed when two pedicle bones join two lamina bones that connect to the back of the vertebral body directly. These lamina bones form the outer rim of the bony ring. When vertebrae arrange one on top of the other, the bony ring forms a hollow tube that surrounds the spinal cord and nerves and provides protection to the nervous tissue.
A bony knob-like structure projects out at a point where the two laminae join at the back of the spine. These projections are called spinous processes, and the projections at the side of the bony ring are called transverse processes.
Joints of the Vertebrae
Between each vertebra, there are small bony knobs at the back of the spine that connect the two vertebrae together called facet joints. Between each pair of vertebra, two facet joints are present, one on either side of the spine. The alignment of the two facet joints allows the back and forth movement of the spine.
Articular Cartilage
The facet joints are covered by a soft tissue called the articular cartilage, which allows the smooth movement of the bones.
Nerves of the Thoracic Spine
On each side, the left and right side of the vertebra, is a small tunnel called neural foramen. The two nerves that leave each vertebra pass through this neural foramen. These spinal nerves group together to form a main nerve that passes to the organs and limbs. These nerves control the muscles and organs of the chest and abdomen. An intervertebral disc is present in front of this opening which is made up of connective tissue. The discs of the thoracic region are smaller compared to the cervical and lumbar spine.
Soft Tissue of the Thoracic Spine
Connective tissue holds the cells of the body together and ligaments attach one bone to another. Anterior longitudinal ligament runs down to the vertebral body and the posterior longitudinal ligament attaches on the back of the vertebral body. A long elastic band called ligamentum flavum connects the lamina bones.
The muscles in the thoracic spine are arranged as layers. Strap-shaped spine muscle, called erector spinae make up the middle layer of the muscle. The deepest layer of muscles attaches along the back of the spine bones and connects to the vertebrae. These muscles connect one rib to the other.
The spinal segment includes two vertebrae separated by an intervertebral disc, nerves that leave the spinal column at each vertebra, and small facet joints of the spinal column.
Cervical Spine Anatomy
The spine, also called the backbone, is designed to give us stability, smooth movement, as well as provide a corridor of protection for the delicate spinal cord. It is made up of bony segments called vertebrae and fibrous tissue called intervertebral discs.
What is Cervical Radiculopathy/Myelopathy?
Disc protrusion, also called herniated disc, is a condition caused by a tear in an intervertebral disc, allowing the disc contents to bulge out.
Disc protrusions in the cervical or neck area place pressure on nerve roots (nerve root compression) or the spinal cord causing radiculopathy. Radiculopathy is a medical term used to describe the neurological deficits that can occur from pressure on the nerves and spinal cord, such as arm or finger weakness, numbness or pain. Cervical radiculopathy refers to dysfunction of a nerve root caused by injury or compression of a spinal nerve root in the neck. On the other hand, cervical myelopathy refers to compression of the spinal cord within the neck.
Causes of Cervical Radiculopathy/Myelopathy
Conditions that can cause radiculopathy/myelopathy include:
- Degenerative disc disease: Wear and tear of the discs between the vertebrae, causing them to lose their cushioning ability
- Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal as we age, most commonly due to degenerative arthritis
- Degenerative spondylolisthesis: Degeneration (wear and tear) of the vertebral components, usually occurring after age 50, causing slippage of a vertebra onto another, spinal stenosis and narrowing of the spinal canal
Symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy/Myelopathy
Cervical radiculopathy can result in pain, numbness, or weakness in the shoulder, arm, wrist or hand. Myelopathy presents with weakness, problems manipulating small objects and difficulty with a normal gait.
Diagnosis of Cervical Radiculopathy/Myelopathy
In addition to a complete history and physical examination, your doctor may order spine X-ray, MRI or CT scans, electromyography and nerve conduction studies to diagnose cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy.
Treatment Options for Cervical Radiculopathy/Myelopathy
When conservative treatment measures such as rest, medication, physical therapy, and pain-blocking injections are ineffective, your surgeon may recommend spine surgery.
The most common spine surgery to relieve your symptoms of nerve root compression involves removing the disc and fusing the two vertebrae above and below it with a bone graft. A newer treatment option is now available to replace the herniated disc with an artificial disc. Artificial discs are used in place of a bone fusion to preserve your neck’s movement and flexibility.
A decompressive laminectomy and fusion is a common surgery performed to treat cervical myelopathy. It is a surgical procedure in which a portion of the bone or lamina causing pressure on the nerves is removed. In spinal fusion, a piece of bone taken from another part of your body is transplanted between the adjacent spinal bones (vertebrae). As healing occurs, the bone fuses with the spine.
