Typical thoracic vertebra

person facing background
  • Body is medium size and heart shaped
  • Small and circular vertebral foramen
  • Long spine that is inclined downward
  • Costal facets on side of body for articulation with head of ribs
  • Costal facets on transverse process to articulate with rib tubercle
  • Superior articular process has facets that face backward and laterally, inferior process forward and medially. Exception 12th vertebra – inferior process face laterally