Respiratory system - Applied Anatomy Flashcards
Applied anatomy of the sternum
Used for bone marrow biopsy
Can be split to make surgical access to the heart, great vessels and thymus
Applied anatomy of the sternal angle
Landmark for counting ribs, costal cartilages and intercostal spaces
What is thoracic outlet syndrome?
Compression of nerves/vessels at the superior aperture of thorax
Fractures of the rib
Painful because the periosteum of the rib is supplied by the intercostal nerves
The rib may penetrate the lung and produce a pneumothorax or may damage the upper abdominal organs
Uses of intercostal spaces
Surgical procedures, e.g. resection of lungs
Percussion and auscultation of underlying structures e.g. heart & lung
Obtaining samples of pleural fluid or drain pus/blood from the pleural cavity. The needle/drain is passed through the intercostal space just above the upper border of the rib to avoid the neurovascular bundle
What are the mediastinal syndromes?
Mediastinal syndromes are a group of symptoms due to compression of mediastinal structure by any tumor:
* Engorged veins in upper ½ of body = compression of SVC
* Dysphagia = compression of esophagus
* Dyspnoea & cough = compression of trachea
* Hoarseness of voice - compression of left recurrent laryngeal nerve
* Paralysis of diaphragm = compression of phrenic nerve
* Intercostal neuralgia = compression of intercostal nerve
* Erosion of vertebral bodies
What is pleurisy?
Inflammation of the pleura
What is pneumonia?
Inflammation of the lung tissue
What is pleural rub?
Sound of friction between inflamed pleurae
What is pleural effusion?
Presence of excess serous fluid inside the pleural cavity
What is hemothorax?
Blood filled pleural cavity
What is empyema?
Pus-filled pleural cavity
What is pneumothorax?
Presence of air inside the pleural cavity
What is hydropneumothorax?
Presence of air and serous fluid in the pleural cavity
What is a pyo-pneumothorax?
Presence of air and pus in the pleural cavity
What is hemo-pneumothorax?
Presence of air and blood in the pleural cavity
How can a benign neoplasm be removed from the lungs?
Surgical resection of one or more bronchopulmonary segments without causing damage
How may tumor development on the lungs affect the body?
Tumor development in the lung may cause obstruction of blood vessels and lymphatics of the airway
Apical tumors may affect lower trunks of the brachial plexus producing arm symptoms
Recurrent laryngeal nerve may also become involved producing a change in the voice
Phrenic nerve invasion may produce paralysis of the diaphragm
Superior vena cava may be obstructed leading to dilation of the veins of the upper part of the chest and neck, producing headache, visual distortion etc.
Esophagus is a direct relation of the trachea and the hilum of the lung
Tumor growth in the mediastinum may cause obstruction or the development of a fistula
How does fracturing the femur affect the lungs?
Fat emboli from fracture of the femur may block alveolar capillaries
Normal lung radiograph
