| Thoracic spinal stenosis is a condition in which the | | | | sometimes also the cervical spine. |
| spinal cord or spinal nerves are compressed by | | | | There are 12 thoracic vertebra and they articulate with |
| narrowing of the spinal canal or the openings between | | | | the 12 sets of ribs that protect our major organs. The |
| vertebrae. The thoracic spine has some unique | | | | thoracic spine curves outward, and the curve is gentler |
| characteristics that make thoracic spinal stenosis a little | | | | than the cervical or lumbar curves. Because of the ribs, |
| different than stenosis in other areas. Thoracic spinal | | | | the thoracic spine is more fixed than the cervical or |
| stenosis rarely occurs in isolation, but is almost always | | | | lumbar areas, too. Most of the motion of the thoracic |
| accompanied by stenosis in the lumbar area, and | | | | spine is rotation, with little flexion or extension. |