Respiratory Anatomy and Dissection Flashcards
List, in the correct order, the names of the parts of the upper and lower respiratory tracts.
Upper respiratory tract:
- R&L nasal cavities/Oral cavity
- Naso-/Oro- pharynx
- Laryngopharynx
- Larynx
LRT:
- Trachea
- R&L main bronchi
- Lobar bronchi
- segmental bronchi
- Bronchioles
- Alveoli
State the body regions the URT is located in.
Head and neck.
State the vertebral level at which the upper respiratory tract becomes the lower respiratory tract.
C6 vertebra:
larynx becomes trachea.
Pharynx becomes oesophagus.
State the vertebral level at which the lower respiratory tract begins.
C6
State the body region the LRT is located in.
Thorax
Define the “chest walls”.
The chest walls contain the chest cavity.
They are made out of the rib cage, muscle, skin and fascia.
They protect the heart and lungs, and enable movements of breathing.
Define chest cavity.
Chest cavity is the space within the chest walls. It contains vital organs/viscera.
It also contains major vessels and nerves.
It consists of the mediastinum, and the R & L pleural cavities.
Define mediastinum.
The mediastinum is the area that lies in between the lungs.
It is divided into a superior and inferior mediastinum.
The inferior mediastinum is further divided into: anterior, middle, and posterior.
The heart is located in the middle mediastinum.
Define the pleural cavities.
The pleural cavities contain the right and left lungs.
They are made from the parietal pleura lining the chest walls, and visceral pleura which line the lungs. The pleural cavities are the space between these.
What is pleural fluid?
The pleurae secrete pleural fluid into the pleural cavity: a lubricant & provides surface tension.
Identify the bones of the chest wall.
Bones: 12 pairs of ribs. Costal margin. 12 thoracic vertebrae. Clavicle and scapula. Sternum: manubrium, body, xiphoid, sternal angle.
Identify the joints of the chest wall.
Joints:
Rib articulates with sternum via costal cartilage (synovial sternocostal joints).
Costochondral joints.
COSTOVERTEBRAL JOINTS:
Head of the rib articulates with body of corresponding vertebrae.
Rib tubercle articulates with transverse process of corresponding vertebrae.
Define and explain the clinical significance of the sternal angle.
The sternal angle can be palpated at the level of costal cartilage 2/ rib 2.
Enables finding of intercostal spaces for auscultation.
Define and explain the clinical significance of the costal margin.
Used as a palpable anatomical landmark, it divides the upper and lower chest.
It marks the location of the diaphragm.
Define and explain the clinical significance of the xiphoid process.
Used as a palpable anatomical landmark.
Lies at the level of the 10th rib.
List and identify the “muscles of breathing”.
3 layers of skeletal muscle located between the ribs and within the intercostal spaces.
1. external intercostal muscles
2. internal intercostal muscles
3. innermost intercostal muscles.
These make the chest wall expand during breathing by pulling adjacent ribs upwards and outwards.
The diaphragm.
List, identify, describe and give the nerve supply to the muscles of (normal) breathing.
Intercostal spaces carry neurovascular bundle between the internal and innermost muscle layers.
Nerve supply is via the anterior ramus of the spinal nerve - the intercostal nerve.
Diaphragm is supplied via the phrenic nerve: combined anterior rami of C3, 4 and 5. These can be found in the neck on the anterior surface of the scalenus anterior muscle, and in the thorax descending over the lateral aspects of the heart.
Detail the anatomy of an intercostal space including its blood and nerve supplies.
Intercostal spaces lie between the ribs, there are 11 pairs.
Each carries a neurovascular bundle of a vein, artery and nerve (VAN), between the internal and innermost intercostal muscles.
Intercostal nerve from the anterior ramus of spinal nerve.
Posterior spaces:
thoracic aorta and azygous vein.
Anterior spaces:
Internal thoracic artery and internal thoracic vein.
The lungs have a dual blood supply. Name them and describe the blood they carry, and why.
Pulmonary arteries: L&R carry venous blood to be oxygenated for the systemic circulation.
Bronchial arteries, supply oxygenated blood to the lung tissue.
State the basic anatomy of, the function of and the nerve supply to the diaphragm.
diaphragm lies inferior to lungs. It forms the floor of the chest cavity, and roof of the abdominal cavity. It has openings to permit structures to pass between these two cavities.
It is a skeletal muscle important in breathing, and has an unusual central tendon. The muscular part attaches peripherally to:
- the sternum.
- the lower 6 ribs and costal cartilages.
- L1-3 vertebral bodies.
It is anatomically arranged as R & L domes. (Right is superior).
The muscular part is innervated by the phrenic nerve (C3, 4, 5).
Describe and explain the “mechanics of breathing”.
INSPIRATION:
Diaphragm contracts, and descends. this increases vertical chest dimension. Intercostal muscles contract to elevate ribs- increases lateral dimensions.
Chest walls pull lungs outwards, and air flows into the lungs.
EXPIRATION:
opposite of inspiration.
Identify the palpable features of the chest.
Jugular notch. Clavicles. Sternum. sternal angle. Xiphoid process. R&L pectoralis major muscles. Costal margin.
How is rib 2 located?
By finding the sternal angle, and moving laterally.
Describe the quadrants of the female breast.
Superolateral (upper outer)- axillary tail.
Superomedial (upper inner).
Inferolateral (lower outer).
Inferomedial (lower inner).
The areola and nipple lies in all four quadrants.
List the surface anatomy of the chest.
R&L midclavicular lines. Midsternal line. Costal margin. R&L axilla. Mid-, posterior-, and anterior- axillary lines.
Describe the relationship of the female breast to the pectoral fascia and muscles.
The female breast lies anteriorly to the pectoral fascia, pectoralis major and pectoralis minor.
Describe the blood supply to the female breast.
Blood is supplied via the subclavian and internal thoracic arteries and veins.
Describe the lymph supply to the female breast.
Lateral quadrants drain unilaterally to axillary nodes.
Medial quadrants drain bilaterally to parasternal nodes.
Describe the anatomy of the pectoral region.
EXTERNAL. Pectoral fascia. Pectoralis major. Pectoralis minor. INTERNAL.
Describe the deltoid muscle.
Bilateral muscles (L&R) of the anterolateral chest wall.
Describe the cephalic vein.
The cephalic vein lies in the delto-pectoral groove.
Describe the serratus anterior muscle.
Muscle of the anterolateral chest wall, supplied by the long thoracic nerve.
It anchors the scapula to the ribs.
Paralysis results in a winged scapula.
Describe latissimus dorsi.
It is the largest muscle of the back.
The apex of the lungs lie in the root of the neck, immediately posterior to which structures?
Subclavian and axillary arteries and veins.
The brachial plexus.
The clavicle, rib 1 and scalenus anterior.
Define and describe the anatomy of the breastplate.
Breast plate is made up of the anterior ribs covering the lungs.
It may be divided medially to form hemi-breastplates.
What are the costodiaphragmatic recesses?
Recess located between the diaphragmatic parietal pleura and the costal parietal pleura.
Its most inferior region laterally is the costophrenic angle.
Abnormal fluid (e.g. pleural effusion, haemothorax) in the pleural cavity drains into the recess causing blunting of the angles and a fluid level on CXR.