Costotransverse Joints

Description

The costovertebrael and costotransverse joints

(A) Schematic drawing illustrating the right half of a thoracic vertebra (transverse section) resected at the level of the body, articulated with the rib in front of the costal angle: the costotransverse joint (CTJ), the costotransverse ligament (CT), the lateral costotransverse ligament and the radiate ligament are shown. (B) Dorsal view of the upper rib cage of a skeleton with the first CTJs (red arrows)

Name

• Costotransverse Joints
• Articulationes costotransversariæ

General

• Synovial joint formed between the tubercle of the rib and the transverse process of the corresponding vertebrae

Articular Surfaces

• Tubercle of rib
• Transverse costal facet on transverse process of numerically equivalent vertebra

Ligaments

• Costotransverse Ligaments
• Superior Costotransverse Ligaments
• Lateral Costotransverse Ligaments
• Accessory Ligaments

Vascular Supply

• Supreme intercostal arteries
• Posterior intercostal arteries

Innervation

• Lateral branches of the posterior rami of C8-T11 spinal nerves

Actions

• Costotransverse joints 1-6: internal rotation of neck of rib
• Costotransverse joints 7-10: posteromedial translation of neck of rib
• Anterior and lateral expansion of chest during inhalation

Muscles that act on the Costotransverse Joints

• Diaphragm
• Intercostal Muscles

---

Clinical Significance

• Needs to be updated

---

See Also

• Chest Pain Main
• Physical Exam Chest
• Thoracic Anatomy Main

---