Quinn Brett Instagram – Young Quinn bringing you some Sunday science.
Moving down the spinal column from our last post (paddle board headstand fail)—— where we talked about cervical spines. Today is the thoracic section of the spine.
Thoracic spine has a great deal of mobility including flexion (bending forward), to pick up all those penny’s. Extension (bend backward) for all you flexible people pleaser. The Thoracic Spine accommodates my dad’s favorite morning stress stretch, a simple side to side rotation (twisting). It also is fairly protected and strong, compared to the cervical spine thanks to all them ribs and such.
Your thoracic spine consists of 12 vertebrae numbered T1 to T12. Each number corresponds with the nerves in that section of your spinal cord, as well. These nerves branch off of your spinal cord and supply sensation (feeling) and movement to certain areas of your body.
T1 and T2 nerves: These nerves go into the top of your chest and into your arms and hands. The T1 nerve is also part of the brachial plexus, a network of nerves in your shoulders that carries movement and sensory signals from your spinal cord to your arms and hands.
T3 through T5 nerves: These nerves go into your chest wall. Together, these nerves help control your rib cage, lungs and diaphragm—— full functional breathing!!!!
T6 through T12 nerves: These nerves affect your abdominal and back muscles. These nerves, along with certain muscles, help with balance and posture, and they help you cough.
For reference. I shattered my T12 vertebra. There was some bruising a little upwards (and not noticeably downwards). I present as a T11 ASIA A injury with a little more sensation and minuscule muscle flicking on my right hip flexor.
The sensation, for me, has moved down millimeters since my injury 5 years ago—— so if I live to be 598 I figure I might feel my big toe again —
Science seems closer in a timeline than that— no joke. We are making progress! Thanks to y’all giving a little $ and care to the cause. | Posted on 19/Sep/2022 06:49:38
