Section of the T4 Vertebra, Lateral View

Description

Oriented in lateral profile, the thoracic column is rendered with T4 emphasized, bringing the vertebral body into clear anterior view and the posterior elements, including the pedicle, lamina, and spinous process, receding posteriorly. Along the posterolateral margin of the vertebral body, the superior and inferior costal demi-facets are identifiable where the head of the rib articulates, with the transverse process extending laterally toward the costotransverse joint. Intervertebral discs bracket the vertebral body superiorly and inferiorly, and the thoracic kyphosis frames the level of interest. This lateral section matters because T4 sits near the transverse thoracic plane and is a common reference level when teaching rib head articulation and the transition from cervical to thoracic mechanics. Costovertebral and costotransverse joint relationships explain why posterior rib fractures, inflammatory arthropathy, or metastatic lesions near the pedicle can produce focal thoracic pain and segmental restriction without obvious disc height loss. Surgical planning also leans on these landmarks: pedicle screw trajectory, rib head resection for thoracic disc herniation, and localization for thoracic epidural or paravertebral blocks all depend on an accurate sense of what lies anterior versus posterior at a given vertebral level. Small joints, tight real estate. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and spine modules to anchor thoracic vertebral identification by facet pattern, in radiology teaching to correlate lateral radiographs and CT sagittal reconstructions with costal facet anatomy, and in orthopedic or neurosurgical publishing when discussing mid-thoracic instrumentation, thoracic pain generators, or rib articulation. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.