S24: Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level

S24.2: Injury of nerve root of thoracic spine

The thoracic spine is located between the cervical spine and the lumbar spine. The ribs are attached to the thoracic spine. The spine contains the spinal cord. The spinal cord is made up of nerve fibers. To the side of the spine, the nerve fibers emerge from the spinal cord and form nerves. Nerves are a sort of wiring in the body. Nerves conduct information. The nerves use electrical impulses to do this. Nerves are important, for instance, in enabling you to sense contacts and temperatures, and to move your muscles.

Nerves emerge from the side of the thoracic spine to serve the chest, the abdominal wall and the back. If nerves in your thoracic spine are damaged, you can have various symptoms in those areas. You may no longer be able to move certain muscles properly, for example. You may also have less sensation on your skin.