Second thoracic vertebra

Looks like

An upper chest vertebra (T2) with facets for the ribs on its body and side processes.

What it does

Supports the upper trunk, carries the second ribs and protects the spinal cord.

Keeping it well

Rarely a problem alone. Upper back pain is usually muscular; pain that wakes you at night, with weight loss, needs a check.

Related conditions

• Acromegaly
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Sarcoma
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency