Costovertebral joints (lateral view) (English)

Costovertebral (costocorporeal) joints connect the heads of the ribs to the bodies of the thoracic vertebrae. The articulating surfaces of the second to ninth ribs consist of a superior and an inferior costal facet that articulate with the bodies of two adjacent vertebrae: the vertebra of the same number and the vertebra above. An intervertebral disc is positioned between these facets. A short horizontally oriented intraarticular ligament extends from the anterior surface of the head of the rib to the intervertebral disc, which helps to delineate an upper and a lower joint cavity. These cavities are covered by a single articular capsule, which becomes thickened anteriorly to form the radiate ligament. The heads of the first, tenth, eleventh and twelfth ribs each articulate with only one vertebra; thus, these joints only have a single cavity.