CHAPTER 2 : THORAX PART 1 : THORACIC WALL Flashcards
Contained within the protective thoracic cage are the important
life-sustaining organs—lungs, heart, and major blood vessels.
In
addition, the lower part of the cage overlaps the upper abdominal
organs, such as the liver, stomach, and spleen, and offers them considerable protection.
Although the chest wall is strong,
- *blunt or penetrating wounds** c**an injure the soft organs beneath
it. **
T or F
True
This is especially so in an era in which automobile accidents,
stab wounds, and gunshot wounds are commonplace.
■■ Because of the clinical importance of the chest wall, examiners
tend to focus on this area.
Questions concerning the ribs and
their movements; the diaphragm, its attachments, and its function;
and the contents of an intercostal space have been asked
many times.
What is thorax?
The thorax (or chest) is the **region of the body between the neck**and the**abdomen**
Describe the outside appearance of thorax.
It is flattened in front and behind
but rounded at the sides.
Define and describe the thoracic cage.
The framework of the walls of the
thorax, which is referred to as the thoracic cage.
Thoracic cage is formed
by the :
- BEHIND :vertebral column
- EITHER SIDE: the ribs and intercostal spaces on
- FRONT: sternum and costal cartilages in
Superiorly, the thorax communicates with the
________
neck
inferiorly thorax is separated from the abdomen by
the______
diaphragm
The thoracic cage protects the lungs and
heart and affords attachment for the muscles of the thorax,
upper extremity, abdomen, and back.
What is the mediastinum?
The cavity of the thorax can be divided into a median
- *partition, called the mediastinum**, and the laterally placed
- *pleurae and lungs**.
What is a visceral pleura?
The lungs are covered by a thin membrane
called the visceral pleura, which passes from each
lung at its root (i.e., where the main air passages and blood vessels enter) to the inner surface of the chest wall, where it is called the parietal pleura.
How are the pleural cavities formed?
The cavity of the thorax can be divided into a median
partition, called the mediastinum, and the laterally placed pleurae and lungs.
The lungs are covered by a thin membrane
called the visceral pleura, which passes from each
lung at its root (i.e., where the main air passages and blood vessels enter) to the inner surface of the chest wall, where
it is called the parietal pleura. In this manner, two membranous
sacs called the pleural cavities are formed, one on
each side of the thorax, between the lungs and the thoracic
walls.
Structure of the Thoracic Wall
- Sternum
- Ribs
- Costal Cartilages
- Intercostal Spaces
- Intercostal Muscles
- Intercostal Arteries and Veins
- Intercostal Nerves
- Suprapleural Membrane
- Endothoracic Fascia
- Diaphragm
- Internal Thoracic Artery
- Internal Thoracic Vein
- Levatores Costarum
- Serratus Posterior Superior Muscle
- Serratus Posterior Inferior Muscle
Sternum
- body of the sternum
- xiphoid process
- sternal angle (angle of Louis),
- xiphisternal joint
The sternum lies in the ___________
midline of the anterior chest wall.
What type of bone is the sternum?
It is a flat bone.
Sternum can be divided into three parts:
- manubrium sterni,
- body of the sternum,
- and xiphoid process.
Describe manubirum.
The manubrium is the upper part of the sternum.
Manubrium articulates
with the body of the sternum at the ____________
manubriosternal
joint,
Manubrium
also articulates with the :
- clavicles and
- the 1st costal cartilage
- and the upper part of the 2nd costal cartilages
- on each side (see Fig. 2.1).
Sternum lies opposite the __________ vertebrae.
3rd
and 4th thoracic
The body of the sternum articulates above with the
manubrium at the manubriosternal joint and below with
the xiphoid process at the_______
xiphisternal joint.
The body of the manubrium articulates on each side,
with the ___________
2nd to the 7th costal cartilages
Discuss the xiphoid process.
The xiphoid process (see Fig. 2.1) is a thin plate of cartilage that becomes ossified at its proximal end during adult
life.
No ribs or costal cartilages are attached to the xiphoid process.
T or F
TRUE
The sternal angle (angle of Louis), formed by the articulation
articulation of the manubrium with the body of the sternum,
The sternal angle can be recognized by the presence of ____________(Fig. 2.2).
a transverse ridge onthe anterior aspect of the sternum
The transverse
ridge lies at the level of the ___________
2nd costal cartilage, the point
from which all costal cartilages and ribs are counted.
The sternal angle lies opposite the intervertebral disc between
the ___________vertebrae.
4th and 5th thoracic
The xiphisternal joint lies opposite the body of the
__________ vertebra
ninth thoracic
Sternum and Marrow Biopsy
Why is the Sternum a common site for marrow biopsy?
Since the sternum possesses red hematopoietic marrow throughout life, it is a common site for marrow biopsy.
Under a local anesthetic, a wide-bore needle is introduced into the marrow cavity through the anterior surface of thebone.
The sternum may also be split at operation to allow
the surgeon to gain easy access to the heart, great vessels,
and thymus.
T or F
True
Describe the Ribs.
There are 12 pairs of ribs, all of which are attached posteriorly
to the thoracic vertebrae
L is the 12th letter of the alphabet
Love is for heart
L is for lungs
Alll of which is contained in side the thoracic cavity
The ribs are divided into three categories:
- True ribs:
- False ribs:
- Floating ribs
Describe the True ribs
The upper seven pairs are attached anteriorly to
the sternum by their costal cartilages.
Upper Seven Heaven
Describe the false ribs.
False ribs:
The 8th, 9th, and 10th pairs of ribs are attached
anteriorlyto each other and to the7th rib by means of
their costal cartilages and small synovial joints.
Describe the floating ribs.
Floating ribs: The 11th and 12th pairs have no anterior
attachment
Desribe the TYPICAL RIB.
A typical rib is a long, twisted, flat bone having a rounded,
smooth superior borderand asharp, thin inferior border
(see Figs. 2.4 and 2.5).
Describe the inferior border of the ribs.
The inferior border overhangs and
forms the costal groove, which accommodates the intercostal
vessels and nerve.
The anterior end of each rib is
attached to the corresponding costal cartilage
What are the parts of the ribs?
A rib has a head, neck, tubercle, shaft, and angle
Describe the head of the rib.
The head has two facets for articulation
with the numerically corresponding vertebral body
and that of the vertebra immediately above
Discuss the neck part of the ribs.
The neck is a constricted portion situated between the
head and the tubercle
Discuss the tubercle of the rib.
The tubercle is a prominence on
- *the outer surface** of the rib at the junction of the neck
- *with the shaft.**
What is the function of the tubercle?
It has a facet for articulation with the
transverse process of the numerically corresponding vertebra
Describe the shaft of the rib.
The shaft is thin and flattened and
twisted on its long axis.
Its inferior border has the costal
groove.
” nasa baba ng rib ang intercostal vessel so always remember to puncture or insert needle superiorly”
Descirbe the angle of the ribs.
The angle is where the shaft of the rib bends
sharply forward.
What is the ATYPICAL RIB?
First RIB.
Why is the first rib clinically important?
The 1st rib is important clinically because of its close relationship to the lower nerves of the brachial plexus and the main vessels to the arm, namely, the subclavian artery and vein (Fig. 2.6).
Describe the
Describe the first rib.
This rib is small and flattened from above
downward.
What is attached to the upper surface and inner border of the first rib?
The scalenus anterior muscle is attached to its
upper surface and inner border.
Anterior to the scalenus
anterior,what vesses crosses the rib?
the subclavian vein crosses the rib
posterior to the scalenus
anterior attachment, what crosses the ribs?
the subclavian artery and the lower trunk of the brachial plexus cross the rib and lie in contact with the bone.
Describe the Costal Cartilages
Costal cartilages are bars of cartilage connecting the upper seven ribs to the lateral edge of the sternum and the 8th, 9th, and 10th ribs to the cartilage immediately above.
The cartilages of the 11th and 12th ribs end in the _________(see Fig. 2.1).
abdominal
musculature
What is the function of the costal cartilages?
The costal cartilages contribute significantly to the elasticity
and mobility of the thoracic walls.
In old age, the
costal cartilages tend to lose some of their flexibility as the
result of superficial calcification.
T or F
T
Joints of the Chest Wall
Joints of the Sternum
- manubriosternal joint
- xiphisternal joint
manubriosternal joint
The manubriosternal joint is a cartilaginous joint
between the manubrium and the body of the sternum.
A small amount of angular movement is possible during
respiration
describe xiphisternal joint
The xiphisternal joint is a cartilaginous joint
between the xiphoid process (cartilage) and the body of the
sternum.
T
The xiphoid process usually fuses with the body
of the sternum during middle age.
T or F?
T
Joints of the Ribs
- Joints of the Heads of the Ribs
- Joints of the Tubercles of the Ribs
- Joints of the Ribs and Costal Cartilages
- Joints of the Costal Cartilages with the Sternum
Joints of the Heads of the Ribs
The 1st rib and the three lowest ribs have a s
single synovial joint with their corresponding vertebral body. ‘
For the
2nd to 9th ribs, the head articulates by means of a :
synovial
joint with the corresponding vertebral body and that of
the vertebra above it (see Fig. 2.4). There is a strong intraarticular
ligament that connects the head to the intervertebral
disc
Joints of the Tubercles of the Ribs
The tubercle of a rib articulates by means of a synovial
joint with the transverse process of the corresponding vertebra
(see Fig. 2.4). (This joint is absent on the 11th and
12th ribs.)
Joints of the Ribs and Costal Cartilages
These joints are cartilaginous joints. No movement is
possible.
Joints of the Costal Cartilages with the Sternum
The 1st costal cartilages articulate with the (see Fig. 2.1).
manubrium, by cartilaginous joints that permit no movement
The 2nd to 7th costal cartilages articulate with ________________.
the lateral
border of the sternum by synovial joints
In addition, the
6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th costal cartilages articulate with
one another along their borders by small synovial joints.
The cartilages of the 11th and 12th ribs are embedded in
the _________
abdominal musculature.
Movements of the Ribs and Costal Cartilages
The 1st ribs and their costal cartilages are fixed to the manubrium
and are immobile.
The raising and lowering of the
ribs during respiration are accompanied by movements in
__________________
both the joints of the head and the tubercle, permitting the neck of each rib to rotate around its own axis.
Openings of the Thorax
What is the thoracic outlet?
The chest cavity communicates with the root of the neck through an opening called the thoracic outlet.
Why is it called thoracic outlet?
It is called an outlet because important vessels and nerves emerge from the thorax here to enter the neck and upper limbs.
What are the bounderies of the thoracic outlet?
- The opening is bounded posteriorly by the 1st thoracic vertebra,
- laterally by the medial borders of the 1st ribs and their costal cartilages, and
- anteriorly by the superiorborder of the manubrium sterni.
Describe the opening of the thoracic outlet.
The opening is obliquely
placed facing upward and forward.
Through this small
opening pass the esophagus and trachea and many
vessels and nerves.
Because of the obliquity of the opening,
the apices of the lung and pleurae project upward
into the neck
The thoracic cavity communicates with the abdomen
through a large opening.
What are the bounderieS?
The opening is bounded:
- posteriorly by the 12th thoracic vertebra,
- laterally by the curving costal margin, and
- anteriorly by the xiphisternal joint.
Through this large opening, which is closed by the diaphragm, pass the esophagus and many large vessels andnerves, all of which pierce the diaphragm.