Costovertebral 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

• Costovertebral Joints
• Articulationes costovertebrales
• Costocorporeal joint

General

• Articulation between the ribs and their corresponding thoracic vertebrae
• Specifically the head of the rib with the body of the vertebrae
• Synovial plane joint

Articular Surfaces

• Costal demifacets on vertebrae T1-T9
• Full costal facets on vertebrae T1, T10, T11, T12
• Heads of ribs 1-12

Ligaments

• Radiate Ligament
• Interarticular Ligament

Vascular Supply

• Supreme intercostal arteries
• Posterior intercostal arteries

Innervation

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

Action

• Internal rotation and elevation of head of rib
• Anterior and lateral expansion of chest during inhalation

Muscles that act on the costovertebral joints

• Diaphragm
• Intercostal Muscles

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Clinical Significance

• Needs to be updated

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See Also

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

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