The Thorax Flashcards
Where is the Thorax located?
Located between the neck (upper) and the abdomen (lower)
What 2 parts is the Thorax made up of?
Chest Walls & Chest Cavity
What is the function of the chest wall?
Protect the heart & lungs
Make the movements of breathing
Bréast tissue - lactation (lactate) = to suckle
What is the function of the chest cavity?
Within the chest walls
Contains vital organs (aka viscera)
Also contains major vessels and nerves
What is the costal margin?
Lower edge of the chest (thorax) formed by the bottom edge of the rib cage.
Medial margin formed by the seventh to tenth ribs.
How many vertebrae are there in total within the adult vertebral column?
33 vertebrae
What are the different regions of the vertebral column and how many vertebrae in each region?
7 Cervical (C1-C7) 12 Thoracic (T1-T12) 5 Lumbar (L1-L5) Sacrum (5 fused sacral) Coccyx (4 fused coccygeal)
What are the features of a typical vertebra?
spinous process 2x transverse processes 2x inferior articulating facets 2x superior articulating facets vertebral arch (consists of 2x pedicle & 2x lamina) vertebral body vertebral foramen intervertebral disc
How many ribs in the human body?
24 (12 paired rib bones)
Label the 4 parts to a “typical” rib.
Ribs 3-9.
Head (with 2 articulating facets)
Superior articulating facet - articulates with the vertebrae above
Inferior articulating facet - articulates with numerically corresponding vertebrae
neck
tubercle - corresponds with the numerically corresponding vertebrae
body/shaft
angle
costal groove - supports the intercostal vein, artery and nerve.
What are the features of a typical rib?
Ribs 1, 2, 10-12.
e.g. Rib 1 (shortest, broadest, most sharply curved (least likely to fracture)
2 transverse grooves on superior surface
Head (with 1 facet); neck; tubercle; body/shaft; superior surface is marked by 2 transverse grooves which make way for subclavian artery (most medial) and subclavian vein (most lateral); scalene tubercle (attachment of scalenus anterior muscle)
Where is the scalene tubercle located and what attaches to it?
Located between the subclavian grooves and attaches to the scalenus anterior muscle
When the ribs articular facet combines with the vertebraes articular facet and its transverse process, what is the joint called?
Costovertebral.
What is another name for scapula and what two bones does it connect with?
Shoulder blade. Connects with humerus and clavicle.
The formation of a costovertebral joint arises from the connection of which two bones and their specific area?
The superior articular facet of the rib and the vertebral articular facet must come in contact to form a costovertebral joint
