Thoracic Cavity 1 Flashcards
What is the function of serous membrane?
Allows movement, expansion and contraction of organs, Compartmentalise, lubricate potential spaces to prevent friction.
what do body cavities consist of?
- confine organs and systems that have related functions
- lined by sous membranes
Where will you find the viceral and parietal pleura layer?
Viceral is the serous membrane incontact with the lungs whereas the parietal layer is incontact with the thoracic wall and superior diaphragm.
1) what are abdominal and pelvic cavities lined by?
2) what is the thoracic cavity lined with?
3) what is the heart covered by?
1) peritoneum
2) pleura
3) pericardium
what makes up the thoracic cage?
- sternum
- 12 pars of ribs
- costal cartilage
- 12 thoracic vertebrae and intervertebral discs
what is the thoracic cavity divided into?
1- right pleural cavity
2- left pleural cavity
3- mediastinum
describe true ribs
- ribs 1-7
- attach sternum directly through their own costal cartilage
where does pleura cover?
- Thorax wall (costal pleura)
- The fascia at the thoracic inlet, at 1st rib and
T1 - Fibrous pericardium and other mediastinal
structures (mediastinal pleura) - Diaphragm (diaphragmatic pleura)
what makes up the thoracic wall
- thoracic cage
- skin and subcutaneous tissue
- thoracic muscles and fascia
- intercostal muscles
- mammary glands and breast tissue
What is the parietal pleura attached to?
Thorax wall
the fascia at the thoracic inlet
1st rib and T1
Fibrous pericardium and other mediastinal structures and the Diaphragm
What is the mediastinum?
The space between the two pleural sacs, sternum and the costal cartilage, thoracic vertebrae and diaphragm.
It is mobile region to accommodate volume and pressure changes
Name the different areas the mediastinum is broken up into?
Superior mediastinum, middle and the Inferior mediastinum (which further gets subdivided into the anterior, middle and postierior mediastinum)
Describe the location of superior mediastinum
It is behind the maubrium, between the inlet and the sternal angle.
Describe the location of inferior mediastinum
Inferior to transverse plane through the sternal angel and the diaphragm.
Inferior mediastinum is further subdivided
into:
- Anterior mediastinum
- Middle mediastinum
- Posterior mediastinum
What are the structres on the right side of the mediastinum?
These related to the right atrium and veins: SVC, arch of azygos and IVC
What are the structres on the left side of the mediastinum?
Relate to left ventricle and arteries: Left common carotid artery, left subclavian artery, arch of aorta and thoracic aorta.
What are the contents of the middle mediastinum
Centrally located
Heart, Pericardium, Origins of great vessels, smaller vessels (pulmonary veins) phrenic nerves and branches of the vagus nerve.
What is the pericardium and its functions
It is a fibro-serous sac that encloses the heart and the roots of the great vessels.
Its functions are anchoring the heart to surrounding tissue without compromising cardiac movement and prevent the overfilling of the heart.
What are the layers the pericardium is comprised of?
Fibrous pericardium (external) and the serous pericardium (internal)