Oct 30 - Thorax and Mediasternum Flashcards
What is the role of the thoracic wall?
The thoracic wall, or ribcage, protects the contents of the thorax (lungs, heart, great vessels, liver, spleen)
Name the three components of the thoracic wall
12 thoracic vertebrae
12 pairs of ribs
Sternum
What does the sternum compose of?
Manubrium
Body
Xiphoid process
Where do you find the sternal angle?
At the level of the second rib
Describe the ribs of the thoracic wall
Each rib has a bony part (costo-) and a cartilage part (chondro-). All 12 pairs of ribs attach posteriorly to the vertebrae (mostly synovial joints). Most ribs show an inferior and medial costal groove to protect intercostal vessels and nerves
What are true ribs? How many are there?
The costal cartilages of true ribs articulate directly with the sternum. Ribs 1 through 7 are true ribs
What are false ribs? How many are there?
The costal cartilages of false ribs connect with with the cartilage of other ribs. Ribs 8 through 10 are false ribs
What are floating ribs? How many are there?
Floating ribs don’t articulate with the sternum. Ribs 11 and 12 are floating ribs
What happens to the ribs during inspiration?
The sternum is slightly elevated, increasing the anterior-posterior dimensions of the thoracic cavity. The lower ribs are elevated, increasing the transverse diameter of the thoracic cavity
What are the main two muscles of the thoracic wall involved in inspiration?
Scalenus muscles and the external intercostal muscles elevate the ribs
What are the main four muscles of the thoracic wall involved in expiration?
The internal intercostal muscles, the innermost intercostal muscles, the transverse thoracis muscle and the subcostal muscles depress the ribs
Describe the external and internal intercostal muscles?
The external intercostal muscles go from posterior to anterior downwards (hands in pockets direction) and the internal intercostal muscles are perpendicular to the external. There is a membrane between the external intercostal muscles and the sternum and between the internal intercostal muscles and the vertebral column
What innervates the muscles of the thoracic wall muscles? What innervates the scalenus muscles?
The thoracic wall muscles are innervated by the intercostal nerves. The scalenus muscles are innervated by the cervical plexus
What are the openings created by the ribcage?
The superior and inferior thoracic aperture
What closes the inferior thoracic aperture?
The diaphragm, separating the thorax and the abdominal cavity
Describe the diaphram
Dome-shaped, musculotendinous, thin muscle. Divides in two: the right and left hemidiaphragm joined by the central tendon. It originates from the xiphoid process and the anterior surfaces of L1-L3 and inserts in the central tendon
Which side of the diaphragm is bigger? Why?
The right hemidiaphragm is bigger because of the heart on the left side and the liver in the abdominal cavity on the right
The diaphragm separates incompletely the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity. What travels through?
The aorta (aortic aperture), the inferior vena cava (vena caval aperture) and the esophagus (esophageal aperture)
When is the diaphragm active (what is the role of the diaphragm?)
Principal muscle of respiration. Also active during coughing
What innervates the diaphragm?
The phrenic nerve (C3, C4, C5)
What are the two main arteries that supply blood to the thoracic wall?
The thoracic aorta and the subclavian artery
What two arteries do they intercostal arteries derive from?
The posterior intercostal arteries derive from the aorta and the anterior intercostal arteries derive from the internal thoracic artery (derived from the subclavian artery)
Describe the thoracic venous system
The inferior vena cava splits into the azygous vein, which collects blood from the right posterior intercostal veins then merges with the superior vena cava. The blood from the left posterior intercostal veins drains hemiazygous vein, which connects to the azygous vein. The internal thoracic vein collects blood from the anterior intercostal veins and merges with the superior vena cava
What do the ventral rami of the thoracic spine do?
They remain segmental (they don’t form plexuses). T1-T6 are considered intercostal nerves. T7-T12 are considered thoracoabdominal nerves. They provide motor innervation for the muscles of the thoracic and abdominal wall. They also provide sensory innervation for the dermatomes and costal parts of the diaphragm. Finally they provide sympathetic innervation for the skin (sweat glands, blood vessels)
What is special about the ventral ramus of T12?
It forms the subcostal nerve (antero-lateral abdominal region)
What do the second and third intercostal nerves do?
They give rise to the intercostobrachial nerves, which at the mid axillary line penetrate the serratus anterior muscle to enter the axilla and arm
What is at the level of T4
The nipples
What is at the level of T10?
The navel