Respiratory Anatomy Flashcards
The superior thoracic aperture is known, anatomically, as
the thoracic inlet
The opening at the top of the thoracic cavity is known as
the thoracic inlet
The thoracic inlet is bounded by what structures?
T1 (posteriorly)
First pair of ribs (laterally)
Costal cartilage of first ribs
Superior border of the manubrium (anteriorly)
The upper surface of the body of the first rib is marked by
2 shallow grooves separated by scalene tubercle
The anterior groove of the first rib transmits
the subclavian vein
The posterior groove of the first rib transmits
the subclavian artery and the lowest trunk of the brachial plexus
The head of a rib articulates with the body of the thoracic vertebra of
as well as the body of the vertebra above at the
the same number
costovertebral joints
What type of joints are costovertebral joints?
Synovial plane
The tubercle of the rib articulates with the transverse process of the thoracic vertebra of the same number at what joint?
Costotransverse joint
The thoracic outlet (inferior thoracic aperture) is bounded by
T12 (posteriorly)
The 11th and 12th pairs of ribs (laterally)
Costal cartilages of ribs 7-10
Xiphisternal joint (anteriorly)
The thoracic outlet is separated from the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity by the
thoraco-abdominal diaphragm
The internal thoracic artery gives off what arteries to the anterior chest wall?
Anterior intercostal arteries
The descending aorta gives off posterior intercostal arteries to
the posterior and lateral chest wall
What happens to the arteries in each intercostal space?
The anterior and posterior intercostal arteries anastomose (join up)
The anterior intercostal veins drain to
the internal thoracic veins
Internal thoracic veins drain to
the brachiocephalic vein
The posterior right intercostal veins drain to
the azygous vein
The posterior left intercostal veins drain to
the hemiazygous veins
The azygous vein drains to
the superior vena cava
The left side of the chest wall drains to
the thoracic duct
The right side of the chest wall drains to
the right lymphatic ducts
The thoracic duct and the right lymphatic ducts drain to
the left and right brachiocephalic veins (respectively)
What are the peripheral diaphragm attachments?
Left vertebrae and arcuate ligaments
Costal cartilages of ribs 7-12
Xiphoid process of sternum
What is the central diaphragm attachment?
The central tendon
The tendinous structures of the diaphragm that arise from the vertebrae are known as
the crura (left and right)
What crus arises from L1-L3 and their intervertebral discs
Right crus
Some fibres from right crus surround the oesophageal opening acting as a physiological sphincter to prevent
reflux of gastric contents into the oesophagus
Left crus arises from
L1 and L2 and their intervertebral discs
The phrenic nerve originates from the roots of
the anterior rami of C3-C5
Does the phrenic nerve carry motor or sensory information?
Both
The motor fibres of the phrenic nerve pierce and innervate the diaphragm from what surface?
Inferior
What structures are innervated by the sensory fibres of the phrenic nerve?
Central part of diaphragm
Pericardium and mediastinal parts of parietal pleura
Also some peripheral portions (innervated by sensory fibres of lower intercostal nerves, T5-T12)
At what vertebral level is the caval opening?
T8
What opening is at vertebral level T12?
Aortic Hiatus
At what vertebral level is the oesophageal hiatus?
T10
Through which opening does the vena cava pass?
T8 - caval opening
What structures pass through the opening at T12?
Aorta
Azygous vein
Hemiazygous vein
Thoracic duct
The branching structure of the airways supplying air to the lungs is known as the
respiratory/tracheobronchial tree
The respiratory portion of the respiratory tract contains
the respiratory bronchioles
alveolar duct
alveolar sac
alveolus
The respiratory tract contains two portions, the respiratory portion and the
conducting portion
What structure is found in the anterior neck at vertebral level C3-C6?
The Larynx
The larynx extends from the tip of the epiglottis to
the inferior border of cricoid cartilage
What 3 parts can the interior of the larynx be divided into?
Supraglottis (vestibules)
Glottis
Subglottis (infraglottic cavity)
The superior laryngeal nerve and the recurrent laryngeal nerve are branches of what nerve?
Vagus nerve
The superior laryngeal nerve branches off into
the internal and external laryngeal nerves
What signals are sent by the internal laryngeal nerve?
Sensory, to mucosa above the vocal cords
Sensory signals to the mucosa below the vocal cords and motor signals to all the intrinsic muscles (except cricothyroid) are sent by what nerve?
Recurrent laryngeal nerve
Hoarseness is produced by injury to one of what nerves?
Recurrent laryngeal nerves
What lobes are in the right and left lungs respectively?
Right - superior, middle and inferior
Left - superior and inferior
What structure is present in the left lung but absent in the right lung?
Lingula
What lung surfaces are there?
Costal
Mediastinal
Diaphragmatic
What is the hilum?
Where the structures forming the lung root enter or leave the lung
The place at which the parietal pleura changes its direction of travel is known as the
Pleural Reflection
The increased space between the layers of the parietal pleura occurring at the pleural reflections is known as
Pleural Recess
What pleura contains somatic nerves and is pain sensitive?
Parietal pleura
What pleura contains autonomic nerves and is pain insensitive?
Visceral
At the inferior margin of the lung, the midclavicular, midaxillary and midscapular lines are found at what ribs, respectively?
Rib 6
Rib 8
Rib 10
At the inferior margin of the parietal pleura, the midclavicular, midaxillary and midscapular lines are found at what ribs, respectively?
Rib 8
Rib 10
Rib 12
What lung structure follows the line of the 4th rib anteriorly?
The horizontal fissure of the right lung
The oblique fissure of both lungs begins at the spinous process of T3 vertebra (spine of scapula) and follows the line of what rib?
6th rib, anteriorly
