Session 2 - Anatomy Of Resp System

Question 1

What makes up the posterior, lateral and anterior border of the thoracic cage?

Answer 1

Posterior - Thoracic Verterbrae
Lateral - Ribs and ICS
Anteriorly - Sternum and Costal Cartilages

Question 2

What does the tubercle of a typical rib articulate with?

Answer 2

The transverse processes of its corresponding vertebra

Question 3

Name some characteristic features of thoracic vertebra.

Answer 3

• Demi-facets
• Costal facets on transverse processes
• Long inferiorly slanting spinous processes

Question 4

Which of the ribs are considered as atypical?

Answer 4

1st, 2nd, 10th, 11th and 12th

Question 5

Which ribs are the floating ribs?

Answer 5

11th and 12th

Question 6

Each ICS contains 3 muscles, name them.

Answer 6

External Intercostals
Internal Intercostals
Innermost Intercostals

Question 7

Which muscle/s of the ICS are used during forced expiration?

Answer 7

Internal Intercostals and Innermost Intercostals

Question 8

When are the External Intercostal muscles used?

Answer 8

During all forms of inspiration both quiet and forced to increase the diameter of the chest

Question 9

What three main structures pass through the diaphragm and at which spinal levels?

Answer 9

Vena Cava - T8
Oesophagus - T10
Aortic Hiatus - T12

Question 10

What is the nerve supply to the diaphragm and what are that nerves nerve roots?

Answer 10

Phrenic nerve (T3,4,5)

Question 11

When performing a pleural aspiration or inserting a chest drain, where in the ICS should you insert the needle?

Answer 11

Just superior to the rib below, this avoids the major neurovascular structures that supply the rib

Question 12

Which two arteries supply most of the ICS?

Answer 12

Posterior and Anterior intercostal arteries

Question 13

Describe the vessels that blood passes through from the heart to the Anterior intercostal artery? (ICS 3 onwards)

Answer 13

Heart -> Arch of Aorta -> Subclavian -> Internal Thoracic -> Anterior Intercostal

Question 14

Describe the venous drainage of the ICS?

Answer 14

2 anterior and 1 posterior intercostal vein

Question 15

Describe the differences between where the right and left posterior intercostal veins drain into?

Answer 15

Right - Azygous -> SVC

Left - Hemiazygous -> SVC

Question 16

Describe the blood supply of the pleura.

Answer 16

The arterial supply is by the internal thoracic arterys and the venous drainage is by the internal thoracic veins

Question 17

What is important about the surface tension of the pleural fluid?

Answer 17

It provides the cohesion that keeps the lung surface in contact with the thoracic wall. As such as the chest wall expands so do the lungs

Question 18

Name the three lines of pleural reflection.

Answer 18

Sternal
Costal
Diaphragmatic

Question 19

Describe the lobes of each lung.

Answer 19

The right lung has a superior, middle and inferior lobe

The left lung has just a superior and inferior lobe

Question 20

At what anatomical landmarks does the trachea begin and end?

Answer 20

Begins at the level of the cricoid cartilage

Terminates by dividing into the two main bronchi at the level of the sternum

Question 21

Which bronchi are inspired objects more likely to fall and why?

Answer 21

Right main bronchus
The angle between the right main bronchi and trachea is more vertical and hence objects are much more common to fall into there

Question 22

Describe some of the features of the pulmonary circulation that allow it to carry out its function.

Answer 22

• Low resistance due to short wide vessels in parallel

- Arterioles have little smooth muscle