A thoracic disc may herniate during a car accident or a fall. Less commonly, a thoracic disc may herniate suddenly (an acute injury). Not surprisingly, most thoracic disc herniations occur in this area. This link is subject to forces from daily activity, such as bending and twisting, which lead to degeneration. T12 is where the thoracic and lumbar spine meet. Spine degeneration is common in T11 and T12. Over time the annulus weakens, and the nucleus may squeeze (herniate) through the damaged annulus. These injuries are repaired with scar tissue. #Slip disk xray crackAs a disc's annulus ages, it tends to crack and tear. This wear and tear is known as degeneration. Thoracic disc herniations are mainly caused by wear and tear in the disc. Related Document: A Patient's Guide to Thoracic Spine Anatomy Causes Why do I have this problem? Left untreated, this section of the spinal cord dies, which can lead to severe problems of weakness or paralysis below the waist. If this single vessel is damaged, as can happen with pressure from a herniated thoracic disc, the spinal cord has no other way to get blood. Doctors call this section of the spine the critical zone. However, only one vessel, the anterior spinal artery, goes to the front of the spinal cord in the area between T4 and T9. Any condition that takes up extra space inside this canal can injure the spinal cord.īlood vessels that run up and down the spine nourish the spinal cord. The spinal canal is narrow in the thoracic spine. Just as the skull protects the brain, the bones of the spinal column protect the spinal cord. The spinal cord is similar to a long wire made up of millions of nerve fibers. It surrounds the spinal cord as it passes through the spine. The spinal canal is a hollow tube inside the spinal column. They protect the spine against the daily pull of gravity and during activities that put strong force on the spine, such as jumping, running, and lifting. Healthy discs work like shock absorbers to cushion the spine. Ligaments are strong connective tissues that attach bones to other bones. #Slip disk xray seriesThe nucleus is held in place by the annulus, a series of ligament rings surrounding it. It provides most of the disc's ability to absorb shock. The center, called the nucleus, is spongy. The intervertebral disc is a specialized connective tissue structure that separates the vertebral bodies. About 75 percent of thoracic disc herniations occur from T8 to T12, with the majority affecting T11 and T12. The upper half of the thoracic spine is much less mobile than the lower section, making disc herniations in the upper thoracic spine rare. The lowest vertebra of the thoracic spine, T12, connects below the bottom of the rib cage to the first vertebra of the lumbar spine, called L1. The thoracic spine starts at the base of the neck. Doctors often refer to these vertebrae as T1 to T12. The thoracic spine is made up of the middle 12 vertebrae. The main section of each vertebra is a round block of bone, called the vertebral body. Vertebrae are stacked on top of one another to create the spinal column. The human spine is formed by 24 spinal bones, called vertebrae. In the thoracic spine, this condition mostly affects people between 40 and 60 years old. Rather, the term herniation means that the material in the center of the disc has squeezed out of the normal space. In rare cases when symptoms do arise, the main concern is whether the herniated disc is affecting the spinal cord.Īlthough people often refer to a thoracic disc herniation as a slipped disc, the disc doesn't actually slip out of place. Seeing a herniated thoracic disc on MRI is often incidental, meaning it shows up when the person has MRI testing for another problem.įew people with a thoracic disc herniation feel any symptoms or have any problems as a result of this condition. A rise in the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has led to the discovery that many people, perhaps as many as 15 percent of Americans, have a thoracic disc herniation.
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