Costotransverse joint
The costotransverse joint is the joint formed between the facet of the tubercle of the rib and the adjacent transverse process of a thoracic vertebra. The costotransverse joint is a plane type of synovial joint which, under physiological conditions, allows only gliding movement.[citation needed] This costotransverse joint is present in all but the eleventh and twelfth ribs. The first ten ribs have two joints in close proximity posteriorly; the costovertebral joints and the costotransverse joints. This arrangement restrains the motion of the ribs allowing them to work in a parallel fashion during breathing. If a typical rib had only one joint posteriorly the resultant swivel action would allow a rib to be non-parallel with respect to the neighboring ribs making for a very inefficient breathing.[citation needed] AnatomyLigamentsThe ligaments of the joint are:
The ligaments limit the movements of the joint to slight gliding.[1] InnervationThe intercostal nerves innervate the costotransverse joints. Therefore, therapeutic medial branch blocks are ineffectual.[citation needed] ReferencesThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 300 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
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