Lecture 12: Thorax 2 - Cavity Flashcards

1
Q

Define Thoracic Cavity: What does it contain?

A

THORACIC CAVITY: the space enclosed by the thoracic wall, containing the mediastinum and the left and right pulmonary cavities

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2
Q

Define pulmonary cavity

A

Paired (left/right); located laterally in completely separate compartments containing the lungs and pleura

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3
Q

Define mediastinum location, and what important organs does it contain?

A

Unpaired; located centrally; important contents include the heart, great vessels, trachea, esophagus

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4
Q

Identify the indicated parts of the thoracic cavity

A
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5
Q

Identify the bounaries of the mediastinum

superior / inferior / anterior / posterior / lateral

A
  • SUPERIOR: superior thoracic aperture
  • INFERIOR: thoraco-abdominal diaphragm
  • ANTERIOR: sternum and costal cartilages
  • POSTERIOR: thoracic vertebrae
  • LATERAL: left/right pulmonary cavities
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6
Q
A
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7
Q

Explain the locations of the superior and inferior mediastinum

A

SUPERIOR MEDIASTINUM: located between the superior thoracic aperture and a transverse plane through the sternal angle

INFERIOR MEDIASTINUM:
located between a transverse plane through the sternal angle and the thoraco-abdominal diaphragm

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8
Q

Use definitions of superior and inferior mediastinum to explain their locations in the diagram

A

SUPERIOR MEDIASTINUM: located between the superior thoracic aperture and a transverse plane through the sternal angle

INFERIOR MEDIASTINUM:
located between a transverse plane through the sternal angle and the thoraco-abdominal diaphragm

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9
Q

What are the 3 subdivisions of the inferior mediastinum?

A

Anterior, Middle and Posterior

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10
Q

Define the locations of the anterior, middle and posterior inferior mediastinum.

A
  • Anterior mediastinum: between the sternum and the pericardium surrounding the heart
  • Middle mediastinum: between the anterior mediastinum and the posterior mediastinum
  • Posterior mediastinum: between the pericardium and the thoracic vertebrae
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11
Q

Identify indicated features of thoracic cavity

A
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12
Q

Identify indicated features

A
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13
Q

What are the contents of the superior mediastinum? 4 structures

A
  • Trachea
  • Esophagus (extends from superior to posterior mediastinum)
  • Arch of the aorta
  • Thymus (extends from superior to anterior mediastinum
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14
Q

Contents of the anterior mediastinum

A

Thymus (superior to anterior)

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15
Q

Contents of the middle mediastinum

A
  • Pericardium
  • Heart and associated structures
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16
Q

Contents of posterior mediastinum? 3 structures

A
  • Esophagus
  • Descending aorta
  • Azygos venous system
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17
Q

What three subsections of the mediastinum comprise the inferior mediastinum?

A

Anterior, Middle and Posterior Mediastinum comprise the inferior mediastinum

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18
Q

Define pleural sac

A

PLEURAL SAC: the tissue that invests and encloses each lung; made up of pleura

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19
Q

Define pleurae, and what are the three layers?

A

Pleurae: (plural, singular = pleura) the membranous layers that surround the lung, forming the pleural sac

  1. Parietal Pleura
  2. Visceral Pleura
  3. Pleural Cavity
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20
Q

Define Parietal Pleura, and what structures it adheres to.

A
  • PARIETAL PLEURA: outer layer; lines the pulmonary cavities; adheres to the thoracic wall, mediastinum, and diaphragm
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21
Q

What are the four named parts of the parietal pleura?

A
  1. Costal part (costal pleura)
  2. Mediastinal part (mediastinal pleura)
  3. Diaphragmatic part (diaphragmatic pleura)
  4. Cervical part (cervical pleura)
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22
Q

Parietal Pleura: Where is the costal part?

A

lines internal surfaces of the thoracic wall

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23
Q

Parietal Pleura: Where is the mediastinal part?

A

lines the lateral aspects of the mediastinum

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24
Q

Parietal Pleura: Where is the diaphragmatic part?

A

: lines the superior surface of the thoraco-abdominal diaphragm on either side of the mediastinum

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25
Q

Parietal Pleura: Where is the cervical part?

A

lines the superior most portion of each lung; extends into the root of the neck

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26
Q

Define Visceral Pleura

A
  • VISCERAL PLEURA: inner layer; covers the lungs; adheres to all the surfaces of the lungs
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27
Q

Define pleural cavity

A
  • PLEURAL CAVITY: the potential space between the parietal and visceral pleurae
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28
Q

What fluid is present in the pleural cavity, and its function?

A

The pleural cavity contains a thin layer of serous fluid (pleural fluid), which lubricates the pleura and facilitates movement

29
Q

What keeps the surface of the lung pressed against the thoracic wall?

A

Surface tension in the pleural fluid keeps the surface of the lung pressed against the thoracic wall

30
Q

When can the pleural cavity become a REAL space?

A

The pleural cavity can become a real space (not a potential space) due to pathology or injury

31
Q

What are pulmonary recesses, and what are they important for?

A

PULMONARY RECESSES: areas in which the pleural cavity is enlarged (i.e., because the lungs do not completely fill the pulmonary cavities)

They are potential spaces containing only a small amount of pleural fluid

Important for accommodating changes in lung volume during breathing

32
Q

What are the 2 pulmonary recesses?

A

COSTOMEDIASTINAL RECESS

COSTODIAPHRAGMATIC RECESS

33
Q

What is the location of the costodiaphragmatic recess?

A

the pleura recess that lies inferiorly between the thoracic wall and the thoraco-abdominal diaphragm (i.e., surrounding the upward convexity of the thoraco-abdominal diaphragm and the thoracic wall)

34
Q

What is the location of the costomediastinal recess?

A

the pleura recess that is located posterior to the sternum where the mediastinal pleura and costal pleura contact each other

35
Q

When will substances accumulate in pulmonary recesses and what three diseases can it cause?

A

As a consequence of disease or trauma, substances may accumulate in the pleural recesses (especially the costodiaphragmatic recess), resulting in one or more of the following conditions:

  1. Hemothorax
  2. Pneumothorax
  3. Hydrothorax
36
Q

Define hemothorax

A

an accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity

37
Q

Define pneumothorax

A

an accumulation of air in the pleural cavity

38
Q

Define hydrothorax

A

an accumulation of pleural fluid in the pleural cavity

39
Q

What are the lungs?

A

LUNGS: the primary organs of respiration whose function is to oxygenate blood by bringing it into close contact with inspired air

40
Q

Define the Apex of the Lung and Base of the Lung

A
  • Apex of the lung: the superiormost area, which extends superiorly into the neck
  • Base of the lung: the concave, inferior portion adjacent to the diaphragm
41
Q

What are the three lobes of the right lung, and the 2 fissures?

A

THREE LOBES: SUPERIOR/UPPER, MIDDLE, INFERIOR/LOWER

TWO FISSURES:
* OBLIQUE: separates the inferior lobe from the
middle and superior lobes

  • HORIZONTAL: separates the middle lobe from
    the superior lobe
42
Q

What are the 4 impressions of the right lung?

A

Impressions:
i. Impression for the superior vena cava
ii. Impression for the inferior vena cava
iii. Impression for the azygos vein
iv. Impression for the esophagus

43
Q

What are the 2 lobes of the left lung, and the one fissure?

A

TWO LOBES: SUPERIOR/UPPER, INFERIOR/LOWER

ONE FISSURE:
* OBLIQUE: separates the superior lobe from inferior lobe

44
Q

What is the lingula, and which lung is it on?

A

The lingula of the left lung is a medial extension of the lung that lies anterior to the mediastinum; it is homologous with the middle lobe of the right lung

45
Q

What is the notch and the impression on the left lung?

A

i. Cardiac notch: for the anterior surface of the heart (primarily the left ventricle)

ii. Aortic impression: impression for the ascending aorta and thoracic aorta

46
Q

Define bronchopulmonary segment.

How many are in each lung?

A
  • Bronchopulmonary segment: one segment of a lung and one segmental branch of the bronchi and pulmonary artery
  • Both lungs consist of ~10 segments
47
Q

What is each pulmonary segment supplied by

A
  • Each segment is supplied by a segmental branch of the respective pulmonary artery and by a segmental branch of the bronchus
48
Q

Are different bronchopulmonary segments independent from one another?

A

Yes, bronchopulmonary segments are anatomically and functionally independent of other segments

49
Q

What is the Hilum of the lung?

A
  • HILUM OF THE LUNG: area on the medial surface of the lung at which structures enter/exit
50
Q

What is the root of the lung, and its 3 associated structures?

A
  • ROOT OF THE LUNG: all the structures that enter/exit the lungs

1) MAIN BRONCHUS (one on each side)

2) PULMONARY ARTERY (one on each side)

3) PULMONARY VEINS (two on each side)

51
Q

What is the pulmonary ligament?

A
  • PULMONARY LIGAMENT: double layer of parietal pleura located directly inferior to the hilum/root
52
Q

Identify the indicated structures

A
53
Q

Describe the route of pulmonary circulation beginning from the heart to pulmonary trunk.

A
  • Deoxygenated blood enters the RIGHT ATRIUM via the superior and inferior vena cava
  • Blood then travels from the right atrium to the RIGHT VENTRICLE, then to the pulmonary trunk
54
Q

Describe route of pulmonary circulation from the pulmonary trunk into the segmental arteries of the lung.

A

Pulmonary trunk: convey deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle

  1. In the mediastinum, the pulmonary trunk divides into the right and left pulmonary arteries
  2. The right and left pulmonary arteries course toward the hilum of the lung, where they divide into lobar arteries, each of which serves a single lobe of the lung (see below)
  3. Within the lung, each of the lobar arteries divides into segmental arteries, each of which serves a single segment of the lung (see below)
55
Q

Once blood is oxygenated, how does it return to the heart?

A

Tributaries of the pulmonary veins course between (and drain) segments (see below).

These tributaries converge to form pulmonary veins, which convey oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium (NOTE: there are typically two pulmonary veins on
either side)

56
Q

What is the function of the trachea and bronchial tree?

A

The trachea and bronchial tree convey inspired air into the lungs and expired air out of the lungs (TRACHEOBRONCHIAL TREE)

57
Q

Describe structure and location of trachea

A

TRACHEA: a fibrocartilaginous tube consisting of C-shaped rings (courses through neck and into mediastinum)

58
Q

Where are the R/L main bronchi?

A

R/L MAIN BRONCHI: in the mediastinum, the trachea divides into the right and left main bronchi, which extend into the respective lungs

59
Q

What do the right and left main bronchi divide into at the hilum?

A

lobar bronchi (each serving one lobe of the lung), which divide into segmental bronchi (each serving one segment of the lung)

60
Q

What do the airways divide into after the segmental bronchi?

A
  • Each segmental bronchus divides into terminal bronchioles, which, in turn, give rise to respiratory bronchioles
61
Q

What does each respiratory bronchiole lead to?

A

Each respiratory bronchiole opens into several alveolar ducts, which end in alveolar sacs, into which clusters of alveoli (plural; singular = alveolus) open

62
Q

What maintains the volume of the lungs?

A

The volume of the lungs is maintained by the surface tension in the pleural fluid in the pleural cavity, which presses the parietal pleura against the thoracic wall

63
Q

Explain how increases / decreases in thoracic cavity dimensions affects volume and pressure.

A
  • Increases/decreases in thoracic cavity dimensions cause increases/decreases in volume
  • Increases in volume cause decreases in pressure, and vice versa.
64
Q

Why is air drawn into the lungs?

A

The increased volume decreases pressure below atmospheric pressure

Air travels from higher pressure to lower pressure, filling the lungs.

65
Q

What muscles and structures contribute to increasing the size of thoracic cavity during inspiration?

A

a. Contraction/flattening out of the thoraco-abdominal diaphragm

b. Movements of the ribs

66
Q

What muscles and structures contribute to decreasing thoracic cavity size during expiration?

A

a. Relaxation of the thoraco-abdominal diaphragm, which causes it to return to its dome shape

b. Movements of the ribs

67
Q

When does expiration occur?

A

When the pressue increase from the decrease in size rises above atmostpheric pressure

Air will flow from higher pressue lungs, to lower pressure atmostphere

68
Q

Which of the following statements about the differences between the right and left lungs is
correct?

A. Both lungs contain an oblique fissure
B. The left lung bears an impression for the azygos vein
C. The left lung contains an oblique fissure and a transverse fissure
D. The left lung has three lobes, and the right lung has two lobes
E. The right lung bears an impression for the thoracic aorta

A

A. Both lungs contain an oblique fissure

69
Q

The pleural cavity is the potential space between which two structures?
A. Mediastinal pleura and diaphragmatic pleura
B. Parietal pleura and visceral pleura
C. Root of the lung and hilum of the lung
D. Thoracic wall and parietal pleura
E. Visceral pleura and lung tissue

A

B. Parietal pleura and visceral pleura