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.

