THORACIC VERTEBRA-BODY

SUMMARY

1. From T4 down the vertebrae look heart shaped

2. The vertebral bodies become larger from above downwards

3. The middle 4 vertebral bodies (T4-T7) show slight asymmetry with slight left-sided excavation produced by the descending aorta

4. The vertebral foramen has a circular outline

5. Posteriorly, 2 foramina separated by a strip of bone appear at the back of the vertebral body to allow the basivertebral veins to exit

6. The PLL is only loosely attached to the body, but firmly to the discs to allow for the veins to exit


Image: Case courtesy of Craig Hacking, Radiopaedia.org. From the case rID: 82853

Reference(s)

R.M.H McMinn (1998). Last’s anatomy: regional and applied. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. Get it on Amazon.
Drake, Richard L., et al. Gray's Anatomy for Students. Elsevier, 2023. Get it on Amazon.