T4 or Fourth Thoracic Vertebra, Lateral View

Description

Oriented in lateral profile, the fourth thoracic vertebra (T4) is presented with the vertebral body positioned anteriorly and the vertebral arch and spinous process extending posteriorly. Superior and inferior vertebral notches are apparent along the pedicle, with emphasis on the deeper inferior vertebral notch that helps form the intervertebral foramen with the adjacent level. Posterior to the vertebral body, the lamina converges toward a caudally angled spinous process typical of the mid-thoracic spine, while the superior and inferior articular processes project to meet the zygapophysial (facet) joints. Laterally, the transverse process is shown in relation to the costotransverse region expected at T4, consistent with thoracic articulation patterns. A lateral view at T4 matters because it clarifies bony boundaries that are harder to teach in axial or posterior renderings, especially the pedicle contour and how the vertebral notches contribute to foraminal height. This is the level where thoracic radicular symptoms can follow foraminal compromise from osteophytes, facet hypertrophy, or a posterolateral disc herniation, and the inferior vertebral notch is a dependable landmark when explaining where the spinal nerve exits. It also supports surgical orientation for pedicle screw planning in the thoracic spine, where small margins and nearby neurovascular structures raise the stakes. Good landmarks. Fast. Common use cases include gross anatomy and orthopaedic teaching materials that compare thoracic vertebrae to lumbar morphology, radiology atlases that pair bony landmarks with lateral spine imaging, and spine surgery publications discussing thoracic foraminal stenosis or instrumentation at mid-thoracic levels. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.