Chest Xray Anatomy Flashcards
Name these structures.
What are some structures that may be hard to see on xray?
- Sternum
- Pleura
- Oesophagus
- Spine
- Fissures
- Aorta
Point out the trachea, carina, left and right main bronchi
The hila (lung roots) are complicated and consist of ______
Major bronchi and the pulmonary veins and arteries.
Can you see the hilar lymph nodes on normal chest xray?
They are usually not visible, however hilar enlargement is often due to pathological enlargment of these nodea.
- Often left hilum is higher than the right, however they should be similar size/density
Outline the zones of the lungs
- Note asymmetry
- Lower zones reach below diaphragm, as they pass behind the dome of the diaphragm
When will the pleura be present on chest xray?
When there is some abnormality present.
eg; pleural thickening, pneumo/haemo thorax
Draw the lung lobes and name it’s fissures!
Each lobe has its own visceral pleural covering.
**lateral fissures can be useful for displaying the oblique fissures
Where is the oblique fissure on this lateral xray?
What is the most common accessory fissure you will see on a chest xray?
An azygos fissure
1-2% and is outlined by the azygos vein
(which hooks forward over the Right Main Bronchus to drain into the SVC)
Which diaphragm should be a little higher then the other?
The right
on this scan, what chambers of the heart are outlined?
Left lateral border of the Left Ventricle
Right lateral border of the Right Ventricle
If the Cardiac Thoracic Ratio (CTR) is >50%, what do when need to confrim before confirming cardiomegaly?
That it is enlarged in a PA view, as an AP view will exaggerate the heart size due to magnification.
What could cause loss of left heart border clarity?
What could cause loss of right heart border clarity?
LHB: Disease in the lingula (upper lobe of the left lung)
RHB: Disease in the middle lobe
There are multiple structures of the mediastinum that should always be checked, what are these and what do they look like?
- Normal aortic knuckle
- Aorto-pulmonary Window
- Right para-tracheal stripe
What actually is the aortic knuckle?
it represent the left lateral edge of the aorta as it arches backwards over the left main bronchus and pulmonary vessels.
The descending thoracic then descends down (yellow line)
**displacement of this can indicate aneurysm or adjacent lung consolidation
What is the Aorto-Pulmonary window?
Lies between the arch of the aorta and pulmonary arteries.
a potential space in the mediastinum where abnormal enlargement of lymph nodes can be seen on CXR
What is the Right paratracheal stripe?
From the clavicles to the azygos vein, the right edge of the trachea is seen as a thin white stripe.
If this stripe is thickened (normally less than 3mm) this may represent pathology such as a paratracheal mass or enlarged lymph node.
**the left side is not so well defined because of the aortic arch/great vessels.
Name the bony structures in this picture…
