SFP: Thorax Flashcards
What are the components of the thoracic cage?
12 ribs, 12 thoracic vertebrae, and the sternum
The thoracic cage protects vital organs and supports the upper body.
What is the inferior thoracic aperture?
The inferior is on top of the muscular diaphragm which separates the thorax from the abdominal cavity
This aperture plays a crucial role in respiratory mechanics.
What is the superior thoracic aperture?
Allows for communication with the neck
It serves as a passage for vessels and nerves to the upper body.
What are the borders of the superior thoracic aperture?
T1 vertebral body, 1st ribs and coastal cartilages, superior border of the manubrium
This structure is important for anatomical orientation.
What are the borders of the inferior thoracic aperture?
T12 vertebrae, costal margin, and xiphisternal joint
It demarcates the lower boundary of the thoracic cavity.
What structures can be found in the superior thoracic aperture?
Vessels/nerves to upper limbs and neck, trachea, esophagus, superior portion of each lung
This area is critical for the function of respiratory and vascular systems.
What are the major compartments within the thorax?
Two pleural cavities and the mediastinum
These compartments house vital structures and facilitate respiratory function.
Describe the distribution of the mediastinum.
Central compartment between the pleural sacs, extending from the root of the neck to the diaphragm, runs from sternum to vertebrae
It contains essential organs and structures.
What are pleural cavities?
Closed sacs lined by serous membrane found on either side of the thoracic cavity
They reduce friction during breathing movements.
Name major structures found in the mediastinum.
Heart, great vessels, esophagus, trachea, thymus, nerves, lymphatic vessels/nodes
These structures are critical for cardiovascular and respiratory functions.
What is the superior border of the mediastinum?
Superior thoracic aperture
This border is significant for anatomical and clinical assessments.
What is the inferior border of the mediastinum?
Diaphragm
It plays a key role in separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
What separates the superior and inferior mediastinum?
An invisible line running from the sternal angle to the space between T4 and T5
This line is crucial for anatomical delineation.
What defines various sections of the inferior mediastinum, and what are they?
The pericardium; middle, anterior, and posterior
These sections have distinct anatomical and functional significance.
What is the middle mediastinum?
The pericardial sac surrounding the heart
The mediastinum is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity.
What borders the spinal canal?
The body, pedicles, and lamina
These structures are part of the vertebral anatomy that protect the spinal cord.
Where do vertebrae articulate with each other?
The body and superior/inferior articular processes
This articulation allows for flexibility and stability of the vertebral column.