Thoracic Vertebrae
Video	Rotating Model
Read this description and then try to find the structures. Note, you can enlarge at any time by hitting the enlarge button (4 arrows), but you lose this text. The blue plus mark will give you a labeled picture from a lateral view. I don't suggest hitting in the enlarged view on the labed picture. It goes past the screen, at least on my computer. Hit stop on the auto rotation. Grab the picture by clicking the mouse and rotate in so the spinous process In this view, you are looking at 2 thoracic vertebrae with an interverteberal disc between them. The spinous process, which is on your right, is posterior and the body, which is on your left, is anterior. Notice how steeply the spinous process bends to the inferior. This is a contrast to the lumbar and cervical vertebrae. In this view, the transverse process is facing you. Pay attention to the transverse facets which articulate with the tubercle of the rib. If you look closely, you can see demifacets on the anterior-lateral and posterior-lateral surface of the body. These demifacets articulate with the head of the rib. These are the superior and inferior articulating facets. You can click on the blue plus to cheat if you don't see them. Pay attention to how the inferior articulating facet of the top vertebra fits nicely on the superior articulating facet of the bottom vertebra. Notice that these facets are a different shape than the cerivcal vertebrae. Rotate the picture back and forth until you can see the foramen between the 2 vertebrae. If you hit the blue plus button, you are can see moew clearly This foramen is called the intervertebral foramen and this is where spinal nerves exit. If the intervertebral disc slips, this foramen becomes smaller and it could pinch a nerve. This typically happens in the lumbar region.