Lecture 22 - MSK Thoracic Wall

Question 1

How many ribs are present in our comparative species?

Answer 1

Feline/Canine/Caprine/Bovine - 13
Porcine - 14
Equine - 18

Question 2

What is the range for number of sternebrae for our species?

Answer 2

Feline/Canine - 8
Bovine/Caprine/Equine - 7
Porcine - 6

Question 3

What is “kissing spine”?

Answer 3

overriding dorsal spinous processes

Question 3

Where is the “kissing spine” most commonly located? give species and location in the vertebral column

Answer 3

Equine; T13-18 but usually T15

Question 4

What forms the costal arch?

Answer 4

a continuous line of united costal cartilages

Question 5

What is the costochondral junction?

Answer 5

where the rib meets cartilage

Question 6

What is the intercostal space?

Answer 6

space between adjacent ribs filled with muscles, neurovascular, and other soft tissues

Question 7

Given the number of ribs present, how many intercostal spaces should there be?

Answer 7

There should be one less intercostal space than there are ribs

Question 8

The sternebrae are a site of harvesting of what tissue?

Answer 8

bone marrow

Question 9

What is the manubrium?

Answer 9

1st sternebra

Question 10

What is the xiphoid process?

Answer 10

last sternebra (8th in carnivores)

Question 11

When may we palpate the xiphoid process?

Answer 11

when looking to make a cranial abdomen incision

Question 12

Name one muscle of inspiration on the thoracic wall

Answer 12

serratus dorsalis (cranial and caudal)
scalenus
rectus thoracis

Question 13

Describe the intercostal muscles and the directions of their fibers

Answer 13

external - caudal, ventral
internal - cranial, ventral

Question 14

Name the thoracic wall muscle located on the deep ventral aspect of the lateral walls

Answer 14

transversus thoracis m.

Question 15

Where do the intercostal nerve and vessels pass concerning the associated rib

Answer 15

ventrally, caudal margin of rib

Question 16

Describe the boundaries of the thoracic inlet - what passes through this region

Answer 16

T1
1st ribs
manubrium

trachea, esophagus, carotid, subclavian

Question 17

Describe the boundaries of the thoracic outlet - what passes through this region

Answer 17

last vertebra
last ribs
xiphoid
diaphragm

esophagus, descending aorta, caudal vena cava

Question 18

Name 3 clinical applications of palpating the external thoracic wall anatomy

Answer 18

1. auscultating heart/lungs
2. perform thoracentesis
3. alleviate respiratory distress

Question 19

Describe the general anatomy used to perform a thoracentesis

Answer 19

at olecranon (level)
cranial margin of ribs
L 7-9 ICS, R 6/7 ICS

Question 20

What is the anticlinal vertebra

Answer 20

where the spinous processes switch from caudal incline to cranial incline

Question 21

What are the clinical signs of “kissing spines”

Answer 21

overt lameness and poor overall performance