A 35-year-old man pedestrian is crossing a busy intersection and is hit by a truck. He is admitted to the emergency department,
and a CT scan reveals a dislo- cation of the fourth thoracic vertebra. Which of the following costal structures is most likely also involved in the injury? A, Head of the fourth rib
B, Neck of the fourth rib
C, Head of the third rib
D, Tubercle of the third rib
E, Head of the fifth rib
Thoracic vertebrae are the twelve vertebral segments (T1-T12) that make up the thoracic spine.
These structures have very little movement because they are firmly attached to the ribs and sternum. Because there is very little movement, the vertebrae in the thoracic spine are usually not sources of back pain.
The thoracic vertebrae articulate with the ribs, each of which will be related to some rib. The fourth thoracic vertebra is directly attached to the head of the fifth rib. For this reason, if a patient has a dislocation of the fourth thoracic vertebra, the lesion is involving the head of the fifth rib.
