Thoracic Hemisection
Thoracic Hemisection - Related Videos
04:14
Performing Thoracic Spinal Cord Hemisection Surgery in Rats
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2025
This video demonstrates the surgical procedure for performing a thoracic spinal cord hemisection in rats. It outlines the steps to expose the T8 spinal cord segment, perform the hemisection to disrupt neural tracts on one side, and provide post-operative care.
06:44
Thoracic Spinal Cord Hemisection Surgery and Open-Field Locomotor Assessment in the Rat
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Cited by 20 •
2019
The rat thoracic spinal hemisection is a valuable and reproducible model of unilateral spinal cord injury to investigate the neural mechanisms of locomotor recovery and treatment efficacy. This article includes a detailed step-by-step guide to perform the hemisection procedure and to assess locomotor performance in an open-field arena.
06:57
Transaxillary First Rib Resection for Treatment of the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
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Cited by 3 •
2020
Here, we present a protocol of the transaxillary resection of the first rib for treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome caused by compression of the brachial plexus, subclavian vein and artery.
01:15
Thoracic Aorta
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2024
The thoracic section of the aorta begins at the T5 vertebra and extends to the T12 level at the diaphragm, initially progressing through the mediastinum to the left of the spinal column. Throughout its course in the thoracic segment, the thoracic aorta emits various offshoots known collectively as visceral and parietal branches. The branches that predominantly supply blood to visceral organs are termed visceral branches and include bronchial, pericardial, esophageal, and mediastinal arteries,...
01:17
The Thoracic Cage: Sternum
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2023
The thoracic or rib cage forms the body's thorax (chest) portion. Its primary function in the body is to protect vital organs in the thoracic cavity, such as the heart and the lungs. It consists of 12 pairs of ribs with their costal cartilages and the sternum. The ribs are anchored posteriorly to the 12 thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12). The sternum is the elongated bony structure on the anterior side of the thoracic cage. It consists of three parts: the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid process.
FAQs
The model’s value comes from creating an asymmetric interruption of spinal pathways. Because only one side is transected, researchers can relate the location and side of disrupted neural connections to distinct motor and sensory changes. This anatomical-behavioral relationship helps clarify how spinal cord pathways contribute to movement, proprioception, pain, and temperature sensation.
The deficits differ because the lesion disrupts pathways according to their direction and laterality within the spinal cord. Impaired movement and proprioception are associated primarily with the side corresponding to the lesion, whereas pain and temperature changes occur on the opposite side. This pattern provides a functional readout of tract organization.
Ascending tracts carry sensory information through the spinal cord, while descending tracts convey signals that influence movement. A thoracic lesion interrupts both categories on one side, allowing researchers to examine how sensory transmission and motor control are affected separately or together. The resulting deficits help interpret which pathway disruptions underlie observed behavioral changes.
Axonal sprouting and circuit plasticity represent potential ways the nervous system can reorganize after the lesion. Sprouting refers to the growth or extension of axonal connections, while plasticity describes adaptive changes in neural circuits. Studying these processes helps researchers determine whether functional improvement reflects anatomical remodeling and altered circuit activity.
The procedure requires surgical transection of one side of the thoracic spinal cord. This controlled lesion establishes the anatomical disruption needed for subsequent analysis of neural pathways and function. Researchers can then examine the characteristic motor and sensory consequences, using the resulting pattern to relate the lesion to spinal circuit organization.
Researchers use this model when they need to investigate spinal pathway organization, functional recovery, or neural adaptation after injury. It supports studies of axonal sprouting and circuit plasticity, and it provides a framework for evaluating rehabilitation strategies or treatments intended to restore sensorimotor function. Outcomes can be interpreted through changes in movement and sensation.