Dissection of the Pectoral Region and Thoracic Cage Flashcards
To what vessel is the cannula attached on the cadaver to perfuse the cadaver?
Carotid artery
What does superficial fascia include?
- Fat
- Fibrous connective tissue
- Cutaneous vessels and nerves
All coming from the thoracic wall, the axilla, and the neck - Breasts in females
What verifies that the skin reflection is at the appropriate plane to separate it from the superficial fascia?
Dimpling on the undersurface of the skin
Why are the areola and nipple hard to identify on a cadaver?
Because there is loss of pigmentation
Which muscles do breasts overlie?
Pectoralis major muscles
Between what ribs do breasts lie?
2 and 6 (normally)
Why do boobs sag?
Loss of tensile strength of ligaments of Cooper
How many lactiferous sinuses?
15-20
What are the pectoralis major and minor and the subclavius muscles enveloped by? What does it attach to?
Clavipectoral fascia (type of deep fascia)
Attaches to clavicle above and floor of axilla below
What is the pectoral region?
Region external to the anterior thoracic wall that anchors upper limbs to trunk
What kind of modified glands are the breasts?
Modified sweat glands
What are the suspensory ligaments of Cooper continuous with?
Dermis of skin
What is the predominant component of breasts in nonlactating women?
Fat
What separates the breast from the clavipectoral fascia?
Retromammary space = layer of loose connective tissue
Transverse breast borders?
Midaxillary line and sternum
Can breast cancer occur in men?
Yes
How far can the axillary process of the breast extend? How?
As far as the apex of the axilla by perforating deep fascia
Innervation of the breast?
Anterior and lateral cutaneous branches of the 2nd to 6th intercostal nerves
Innervation of the nipple?
Lateral cutaneous branch of 4th intercostal nerve
Largest muscle of pectoral region?
Pectoralis major
Pectoralis major:
- Origin
- Insertion
- Innervation
- Function
- Medial half of clavicle, anterior surface of sternum, first 7 costal cartilages, aponeuris of external oblique
- Lateral lip of intertubercular sulcus of humerus
- Medial and lateral pectoral nerves
- Adduction, medial rotation, and flexion of the humerus at the shoulder joint
What is the deltopectoral triangle?
Area between the 2 muscles NOT covered by muscle
What 2 vessels are found in the deltopectoral triangle?
- Cephalic vein
2. Thoracoacromial artery
How to tell difference between arteries and nerves?
Nerves are FLAT
Pectoralis minor:
- Origin
- Insertion
- Innervation
- Function
- Anterior surfaces of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th ribs and deep fascia overlying the related intercostal spaces
- Coracoid process of scapula
- Medial pectoral nerve
- Depresses tip of shoulder and protracts the scapula
Subclavius:
- Origin
- Insertion
- Innervation
- Function
- Rib 1 at junction between rib and costal cartilage
- Groove on inferior surface of middle 3rd of clavicle
- Nerve to subclavius
- Pulls clavicle medially to stabilize sternoclavicular joint, and depresses the tip of the shoulder
Serratus anterior:
- Origin
- Insertion
- Innervation
- Function
- Lateral surfaces of upper 8-9 ribs and deep fascia of related intercostal spaces
- Costal surface of medial border of scapula
- Long thoracic nerve (on external surface)
- Protraction and rotation of the scapula around the rib cage, keeps medial border and inferior angle of scapula opposed to thoracic wall
What is the boxers’ muscle?
Serratus anterior
What would damage to the long thoracic nerve due to breast cancer surgery cause?
- “Winging” of the scapula when pushing forward with the arm because the medial border and inferior angle of the scapula will elevate away from the thoracic wall
- Normal elevation of the arm is no longer possible
Where do nerves, lymphatics, and vessels pass from the axilla to the pectoral region?
They pass through the clavipectoral fascia between the subclavius and the pectoralis minor OR under the inferior margins of the pectoralis major and minor
Where is the serratus anterior muscle located in relation to the pectoralis minor?
Deep to it
External intercostal:
- Superior attachment
- Inferior attachment
- Innervation
- Function
- Inferior margin of above rib
- Superior margin of below rib
- Intercostal nerves
- Inspiration to move rib superiorly and supports intercostal space
Internal intercostal:
- Superior attachment
- Inferior attachment
- Innervation
- Function
- Lateral edge of costal groove of above rib
- Superior margin of below rib deep to the attachment of the related external intercostal
- Intercostal nerves
- Expiration to move ribs inferiorly and supports intercostal space
Innermost intercostal:
- Superior attachment
- Inferior attachment
- Innervation
- Function
- Medial edge of costal groove of above rib
- Internal aspect of superior margin of below rib
- Intercostal nerves
- Probably elevate the ribs
What are the 4 types of intrinsic thoracic muscles? List from superficial to deep
- External intercostals
- Internal intercostals
- Innermost intercostals
- Transversus thoracis muscles (same plane as innermost intercostals)
Describe the orientation of external intercostal muscles.
From superior lateral to inferior medial (until reaching the external intercostal membrane) in an oblique manner
Function of external intercostal muscles? How?
Elevate ribs during inhalation
First rib is fixed by scalene muscles that anchor it to the bones of the neck
How many intercostal muscles?
11 of each 3 types
Describe the orientation of internal intercostal muscles.
Perpendicular to the external intercostals (until reaching the internal intercostal membrane)
Function of internal intercostal muscles? How?
Depress ribs during forceful expiration
12th rib is fixed by the quadratus lumborum to the vertebrae
Are intercostal muscles continuous around the chest?
NOPE, membranous layers help complete the spaces left unfilled by the muscles
Where do the nerves and vessels (artery + vein) of the intrinsic thoracic muscles travel? How are they arranged? What is the clinical significance of this?
Between the internal and innermost intercostal muscles underneath each rib
Superior to inferior: V, A, N
During a pleural tap, the needle is inserted on the upper border of the rib so as to minimize potential damage to nerves
Function of innermost intercostal muscles?
Probably elevate the ribs
Describe the orientation of innermost intercostal muscles.
Same as internal intercostal muscles
Which of the nerves and vessels (artery + vein) of the intrinsic thoracic muscles are most likely to be injured during an intercostal injury? Why?
Nerve because least protected by rib costal groove (most inferior)
How to tell the difference between rib bone and rib cartilage?
Difference in color between the two because there is no blood flow to cartilage
Are there external intercostals between costal cartilages?
Nope, the external intercostal membrane is there
What is the most anterior component of the superior mediastinum lying immediately posterior to the manubrium of the sternum?
Thymus
Describe the shape of the thymus.
Asymmetrical bilobed structure
Upper and lower borders of thymus?
Upper: can extend up in the neck to the thyroid gland
Lower: anterior mediastinum over pericardial sac
Size of thymus?
Large in child
Atrophies after puberty
Considerable size variation in the adult
Barely identifiable in elderly, consisting mainly of fat
Blood supply to thymus?
Small branches from right and left internal thoracic arteries
Venous drainage of thymus?
Into left brachiocephalic vein and internal thoracic veins
Why do we sometimes find ectopic parathyroid glands on the thymus?
Because they both develop from the third pharyngeal pouch so the thymus is sometimes the site for ectopic parathyroid hormone production
Lymphatic drainage of thymus?
- Parasternal nodes
- Tracheobronchial nodes
- Nodes in root of neck