Respiratory Anatomy 1.1 Flashcards
What is the thorax?
It is the superior part of the trunk between the neck and the abdomen.
What does the thoracic cavity contain?
Heart, lungs, thymus and distal part of the trachea
What does the thoracic wall consist of?
skin, fascia, nerves, vessels, muscles, cartilage and bones.
What are the functions of the thoracic cavity?
- It protects the thorax and some abdominal organs
- It helps in inspiratory movements
- It also acts a muscle attachment site for many groups of muscles.
What is the thoracic cage?
The thoracic skeleton forms the thoracic cage, which involves 12 pairs of ribs, the sternum, the twelve thoracic vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
What do the coastal cartilages form?
They form the anterior continuation of the ribs, providing a flexible attachment at the articulation with the sternum.
What separates the ribs and their cartilages?
Intercostal spaces
What occupies the intercostal spaces?
Muscles, vessels and nerves.
How does the thoracic region communicate with the neck?
It communicates via the superior thoracic aperture which is known as the anatomical thoracic inlet.
How does the thorax communicate with the abdomen?
It communicates via the inferior thoracic aperture which is also known as the anatomical thoracic outlet.
What is the superior thoracic aperture bound by posteriorly?
The T1 thoracic vertebrae.
What is the superior thoracic aperture bound by laterally?
The first pair of ribs.
What is the superior thoracic aperture bound by anteriorly?
The costal cartilages of the first ribs and the superior border of the manubrium
What is the inferior thoracic aperture bound by posteriorly?
12th thoracic vertebrae
What is the inferior thoracic aperture bound by anteriorly?
Coastal cartilages of ribs 7 to 10 and the xiphisternal joint
What is the inferior thoracic aperture bound by laterally?
11th and 12th floating ribs
What is located on each side of the manubrium?
The clavicular notch, which articulates with the sternal end of the clavicle.
What kind of joint is formed between the clavicle and the sternum?
A saddle joint.
What forms just below the joint between the clavicle and the sternum?
The sternum articulates with the cartilage of the first rib.
What kind of joint is formed between the sternum and the cartilage of the first rib and the sternum?
Primary cartilaginous joint
What is the sternal angle and where is it formed?
The manubrium and the body of the sternum lie at different angles to each other and this is known as the sternal angle.
Where does the sternal angle lie?
At the level of the second pair of coastal cartilages which lies opposite to the fourth intervertebral disc between T4 and T5.