Intro to respiratory system (anatomy) Flashcards
How are the lungs imaged?
CT/MRI
In a chest X ray, how many ribs are you aiming to see?
10 anterior
6 posterior
What happens to the shape of the heart during inspiration?
It is elongated as the central tendon of the diaphragm is attached to the heart
What are the boundaries of the thoracic cavity?
Thoracic inlet
Thoracic outlet
Ribs/sternum
Vertebral column
What is thoracic outlet syndrome?
Compression at the thoracic inlet
Which membrane sits on top of the thoracic inlet?
Suprapleural membrane
Which blood vessels pass through the thoracic inlet?
Subclavian artery and vein
Common carotid artery
Internal jugular vein
Which dome of the diaphragm is higher up?
Right dome
What are the arcuate ligaments?
Ligaments of the diaphragm that arch over the posterior abdominal wall muscles.
Lateral, medial and median.
What is the costodiaphragmatic recess/ phrenic angle?
Space where the diaphragm meets the ribs.
Clinically important for biopsies of pleural fluid.
Why is the pleural fluid held at negative atmospheric pressure (intrapleural pressure)?
Parietal pleura and visceral pleura are very tightly associated, the fluid within creates a hydrostatic pressure.
They move together - when the chest wall moves, the parietal pleura moves so the visceral pleura moves.
Lungs want to move inwards, chest wall wants to move outwards.
Which nerves innervate the parietal pleura?
Intercostal nerves
Phrenic nerve
Where is pain felt in diaphragmatic pleurisy?
Shoulder
What happens if negative intrapleural pressure is lost?
Lungs will collapse inwards
Why do smoker’s with Emphysema have a larger chest? (Barrel chest)
Destruction of elastic tissue of lung - chest wall expands outwards
