![]() ![]() The thoracic vertebrae are firmly connected to the ribs and breastbone (sternum). The middle portion of the spine is called the thoracic spine, and is composed of 12 vertebrae. The cervical spine also has small openings on each side the spine, for a special blood vessel carrying blood to the brain, called the vertebral artery. The cervical spine is extremely flexible, and therefore is quite prone to injury. Except for the 1st and 2nd cervical vertebrae, all vertebrae have three joints at each level, an intervertebral disc in the front and two facet joints in the back. The upper portion of the spine is called the cervical spine, and is composed of 7 vertebrae. ![]() The facet joints have a strong, outer joint capsule. The facet joints are small synovial joints on the back part of the spine on each side, connecting near the lamina. The disc acts as a shock absorber and allows motion and bending of the spine. The soft inner portion is called the nucleus pulposis, and the stronger outer ring is called the annulus fibrosis. The intervertebral disc is a soft cartilage cushion with two layers. The complex interaction between these three joints at each spinal level allows significant flexibility of the spine, but also ensures stability and resistance to injury. The facet joints join near the back part of the spine on each side, near the lamina. Each vertebra is connected to an adjacent vertebra by three joints: an intervertebral disc and two facet joints. ![]()
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