Anatomy of the Respiratory System Flashcards
What makes up the bony thorax?
Posteriorly - the ribs and intercostal spaces.
Medially - the sternum.
Anteriorly - the costal cartilages.
What happens above the bony thorax?
It is continuous with the neck at the thoracic inlet.
What happens below the bony thorax?
It is separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm.
What do the twelfth ribs articulate with posteriorly?
The vertebral column via the costovertebral joints.
What do ribs 1-7 articulate with anteriorly?
The sternum via costal cartilages.
What do ribs 8-10 articulate with anteriorly?
The costal cartilages.
What do ribs 11-12 articular with anteriorly?
Nothing, ribs end free in abdominal muscles - floating ribs.
What are the parts of a typical rib?
Head, neck, tubercle, and shaft.
Which ribs are typical?
3rd-9th.
What are the features of the head of typical ribs?
Two articular facets for articulation with the body of the corresponding vertebra and the vertebra above.
What are the features of the neck of typical ribs?
Connect the head of the rib with the body at the level of the tubercle.
What are the features of the tubercle of typical ribs?
One articular facet for articulation with the transverse process of the corresponding thoracic vertebra.
What are the features of the shaft of the typical ribs?
Thin, flat, and curved. At the angle, the shaft twists forward in the characteristic curve of ribs. It has a costal groove close to its lower border, which protects the intercostal vessels and nerves.
How are the intercostal vessels and nerves protected by the ribs?
The shaft of typical ribs has a costal groove close to its lower border to protect them.
What makes most thoracic vertebra typical?
They are independent, have bodies, vertebral arches, and seven processes for muscular and articular connection.
What are the three main features of thoracic vertebrae?
Bilateral costal facets, costal facets, spinous processes.
Where are the bilateral costal facets of thoracic vertebrae?
On the vertebral bodies, in inferior and superior pairs.
What do the bilateral costal facets of thoracic vertebrae articulate with?
Heads of ribs.
What do costal facets of thoracic vertebrae articulate with?
The tubercles of ribs.
What do costovertebral joints connect?
The ribs with the thoracic vertebrae.
Where do movements of respiration take place?
At the joints of the ribs and thoracic vertebrae. Joint at the rib head an costotransverse joint.
What is the joint of the rib head?
Head of the rib articulating with the corresponding vertebra and the vertebra above.
What is the costotransverse joint?
Articular facet on the tubercle of the rib articulates with the transverse process of the corresponding vertebra.
What are the atypical ribs?
Ribs 1, 2, 10, 11, and 12.
How is the first rib atypical?
It is the broadest, shortest, and most sharply curved rib. It only has a single articular facet for articulation with T1 vertebra. It has two transversely directed grooves crossing its superior surface for the subclavian vessels, separated by a scalene tubercle.
How is the second rib atypical?
It has two articular facets for articulation with the bodies of T1 and T2 vertebrae. It has a tuberosity for the serratus anterior - roughened area on upper surface.
How are ribs 10-12 atypical?
Single articular facet for articulation with a single vertebra. Ribs 11 and 12 are short with no neck or tubercle.
What are the three muscles of each intercostal space?
External intercostals, internal intercostals, innermost intercostals.
When are each of the three muscles of the intercostal spaces used?
External intercostals in inspiration, internal intercostals in forced expiration, and innermost intercostals in forced expiration.
Where do the fibres of external intercostals run?
Downwards and anteriorly from above the rib to the one below.
What is the action of external intercostals?
Elevate the ribs in a bucket-handle motion to increase the anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the chest.
What is responsible for 30% of chest expansion during quiet respiration?
External intercostal muscles.
Where do the fibres of the internal intercostals run?
Downwards and posteriorly from above rib to one below.
What is the action of internal intercostals?
Pulls the ribs down from the position of chest expansion.
How do the innermost intercostal muscles differ from the internal intercostals?
They are similar but less well developed.
What is the nerve supply to the intercostal muscles?
The intercostal nerves.
What is the main muscle of inspiration?
The diaphragm.
What does contraction of the diaphragm cause?
Descent on the diaphragm so expansion of the chest.
What is responsible for 70% of chest expansion during quiet respiration?
The diaphragm.
What are the openings of the diaphragm?
T8 - vena cava.
T10 - oesophagus.
T12 - aorta (aortic hiatus).
What are the three parts of the diaphragm?
Vertebral part, costal part, sternal part.
What does the vertebral part of the diaphragm arise from?
The crura and arcuate ligaments.
What does the costal part of the diaphragm arise from?
The inner aspects of the 7-12 costal cartilages.