The upper back vertebrae
Thoracic vertebrae (T1–T12) · vertebrae thoracicae
Twelve vertebrae in your upper and mid back, each carrying a pair of ribs.
What it does
The twelve thoracic vertebrae form the middle of your spine. Each has small joints where a pair of ribs attaches, so together they make the back of the ribcage. The ribs brace this section, which makes it the stiffest part of the spine and keeps your heart and lungs well protected.
Surprising fact
Each of these vertebrae has its own pair of ribs, so counting down the ribs from the top is one way doctors find a particular vertebra on an X-ray.
Why it matters
The gentle outward curve of your upper back comes from these bones. It tends to increase with age and with long hours hunched at a desk, which is why upper-back stretches feel so good.
Nearby
Read more
Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.