The Thorax Flashcards
What is the thorax?
Area between the neck and abdomen
What is the framework of the thorax?
Bones, muscles, cartilage
What is the main functions of the thorax?
- Respiration
- Protection of vital organs of chest
- Pathways
What is the thoracic cage formed by?
- Sternum and costal cartilages (anterior)
- Ribs and inter coastal spaces
- Vertebral column (posterior)
How many thoracic vertebrae are there?
12
What are the parts of the sternum?
- Manubrium
- Body
- Xiphoid
What is the manubrium?
- “Handle”
- Superior part
- Square shaped
What is the body of the sternum?
- Long and narrow
- Ribs attach to the body lateral
A hinge joint is located where in the sternum and why?
It is located between the body and the manubrium and used for breathing
What is the Xiphoid?
Smaller inferior tip
What is the suprasternal or jugular notch
- Central depression
- Located on the superior surface of the manubrium
What is the sternal angle?
- Hinge joint
- Palpable ridge approximately 5 cm below the notch
- Level of aortic arch
Where is the Xiphoid process located ?
Where the right and left costal margins meet
What are the true ribs? And how many are their?
True ribs are connected directly with the sternum. There are seven of them
What are the false ribs? How many are there?
There are 5 false ribs and they are indirectly connected with the sternum.
What are the two sections of the false ribs?
- Ribs 8-10 that has costal cartilage which articulate with each rib above
- Ribs 11-12 which are floating ribs
The thoracic cavity is subdivided into how many compartments? What are they?
Three compartments
1. Two pleural spaces
2. Mediastinum
What is the thoracic inlet?
- Superior thoracic aperture
- Small yet very important