Module 1: Thoracic Cavity Flashcards
Anatomical Nomenclature
Ensure appropriate communication between health professionals.
Will tell you direction (relative to something else) or what plane the image is cut into.
Anterior
at or near the front of the body (front view)
Anterior - embryonic term
ventral
Posterior
at or near the back of the body (back view)
Posterior - embryonic term
dorsal
Superior
toward the head/upper part of a structure (bird’s-eye view, looking down)
Superior - embryonic term
cranial or cephalic
Inferior
away from the head/lower part of a structure (bottom view, looking up)
Inferior - embryonic term
caudal
Medial
towards the midline/middle of the body/organ
Lateral
away from the midline/middle of the body/organ
Midline
an imaginary vertical line that divides the body equally (right down the middle)
Proximal
towards the trunk; near the origin
Distal
away from the truck; far from the origin
Intermediate
between a more medial and a more lateral structure
Frontal/coronal plane
divides the body/organ into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions
Sagittal/longitudinal plane
divides the body into left and right portions
Transverse/axial plane
divides the body into superior and inferior portions
External
towards or at the body surface
Internal
away from the body surface
What is the thorax?
Second largest hollow space in the body
What organs does the thorax contain?
Heart, lungs, oesophagus, trachea and blood vessels
Superior boader of the thorax
the thoracic outlet where the vessels to the head and arms and the oesophagus and trachea course above the first rib
Anterior border of the thorax
is the sternum — an elongated, flat bone forming the middle part of the anterior thoracic wall
Inferior boarder of the thorax
is the diaphragm — a dome shaped musculofibrous sheet separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities
Posterior boader of the thorax
is the vertebral column — the backbone
3 subsections of the thorax
Right and left pleural cavity
Mediastinum
Right and left pleural cavity contain?
right and left lungs
Mediastinum contains?
heart, aorta, pulmonary artery, oesophagus and trachea as well as various nerves and parts of the lymphatic system
