Lateral Perspective of the Fourth Thoracic Vertebra T4

Description

Rendered from a lateral perspective, the male fourth thoracic vertebra (T4) is highlighted against adjacent thoracic vertebrae, with the vertebral body positioned anteriorly and the vertebral arch, pedicles, and laminae forming the posterior boundary of the vertebral canal. The superior and inferior vertebral notches are clearly profiled on the posterolateral margins of the vertebra, contributing to the intervertebral foramina when paired with the corresponding notches of T3 and T5. Posteriorly, the spinous process projects inferiorly in keeping with thoracic morphology, while the transverse process extends laterally toward the costotransverse region. Intervertebral discs separate the vertebral bodies and preserve thoracic alignment along the normal kyphotic curve. This lateral view makes the notch anatomy easy to teach because you can relate bony contour directly to the exit corridor for the thoracic spinal nerve and segmental vessels at the T3 to T4 and T4 to T5 intervertebral foramina. Foraminal narrowing from degenerative disc height loss or facet arthropathy is often discussed in the cervical and lumbar spine, but the same mechanics apply in the thoracic region and can contribute to thoracic radicular pain patterns. Pedicle contour at T4 also matters for thoracic pedicle screw planning, where small diameters and medial angulation increase the consequence of a breach into the spinal canal. Clear landmarks. No guesswork. Use this illustration in gross anatomy lab manuals, spine modules in radiology or orthopedic training, and publisher figures explaining thoracic kyphosis, intervertebral disc degeneration, or thoracic instrumentation at mid-thoracic levels. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.