Unusual costotransverse joints found in laboratory bones

Abstract

The present study presents an anatomical variation in the costotransverse fovea of the thoracic vertebrae. This finding occurred at the Universidade do Vale dos Sinos, after cleaning a skeleton received from the regional cemetery, made by the technicians of the anatomy laboratory. The foveae in question were absent from the 8th thoracic vertebra. After this observation, it was searched in the literature some references that explain this variation and its implications, which was not found. The absence of these joints can have a significant impact on the biomechanics of this joint complex. The costovertebral joints were preserved.