A Lateral View Of The Thoracic Vertebra's Transverse Costal Facet

Description

Rotating in lateral profile, the thoracic vertebra’s transverse process comes into prominence, terminating in the transverse costal facet (fovea costalis processus transversi), a shallow, cup-shaped articular surface for the tubercle of a rib. The animation keeps the vertebral body anterior and the vertebral arch posterior while tracking laterally to the tip of the transverse process, clarifying how the facet sits posterolateral to the vertebral body and just anterior to the superior articular process. Subtle changes in angle help distinguish the transverse costal facet from the nearby mammillary region and the junction of pedicle and lamina. Small surface. Big landmark. Clinically, this is the bony target for the costotransverse joint, the articulation that couples rib motion to thoracic spinal mechanics during respiration. Seeing the facet in motion helps explain why costotransverse arthritis or trauma can produce focal paraspinal pain that worsens with deep inspiration, and why rib dysfunction at this joint can limit thoracic rotation. The lateral sequence also supports interpretation of oblique CT reconstructions and fluoroscopic landmarks used during thoracic costotransverse injections or rib blocks, where millimeters matter and the transverse process can obscure the joint line. Use it in gross anatomy and osteology teaching to reinforce thoracic vertebra identification, in respiratory biomechanics modules to tie rib excursion to thoracic segment anatomy, or in procedure education illustrating the bony relationships relevant to posterior thoracic approaches. It also reads well in spine atlases and radiology teaching files that need a clean, orientation-stable view of the transverse process and rib articulation. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.