Thoracic Cavity Flashcards by Caitlyn Crawford

What are the skeletal boundaries of the thoracic cavity?

Dorsal: thoracic vertebrae
Ventral: sternebra and costal cartilages
Lateral: ribs and costal cartilages
Cranial: thoracic inlet
Caudal: diaphragm

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What is the diaphragm?

Provides a muscular tendinous separation between the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

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What are the muscular portions of the diaphragm?

R & L costal parts
Sternal part
Lumbar portion with R & L crura

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What are the tendinous parts of the diaphragm?

Central tendon

Right and left crura to lumbar vertebral bodies

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What are the attachments/coverings of the thoracic side of the diaphragm?

Pleural covering: serous membranes of the R and L pleural cavities attach to the surface of the diaphragm
Diaphragmatic line of pleural reflection: junction between the costal pleura and the diaphragmatic pleura
Mediastinal attachment: region where the medial portions of the left and right pleural sacs attach to the diaphragm
Plica vena cavae: a fold of the right mediastinal pleura that envelopes the caudal vena cava and right phrenic nerve

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What are the four openings in the diaphragm?

Lumbocostal arch
Aortic hiatus
Esophageal hiatus
Caval foramen

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Lumbocostal arch

Area between the crura and vertebrae
Potential area of a hernia
Passage of splanchnic nerve

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Aortic hiatus

Passage of aorta, azygous vein and thoracic duct

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Esophageal hiatus

Transmits the esophagus and dorsal/ventral vagus trunks

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Caval foramen

Transmits caudal vena cava

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What are serous cavities?

Line and enclose body cavities
Composed of secretory epithelial layers (mesothelium) and a CT layer
protective layer that secretes serous fluid to reduce friction of organs

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What are the two types of serous cavities according to location?

Parietal: lines cavity wall
Visceral: cover organ surfaces

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What are three serous cavities within the thoracic cavity?

Left pleural cavity
Right pleural cavity
Pericardial cavity

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Parietal pleura

Where the two pleural sacs are adherent to the walls of the thoracic cavity and the mediastinum

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Endothorasic fascia

The “glue” that attaches the pleura to the thoracic walls

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Pleural cavities

Spaces within the pleural sacs

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Mediastinum

Space between the two pleural sacs where they meet medially, continuous with the visceral space

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What are the four specific regions of the parietal pleura?

Costal pleura
Sternal pleura
Diaphragmatic pleura
Mediastinal pleura
Diaphragmatic line of pleural reflection

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What are the recesses of the pleura?

Pleura cupula 
Costomediastinal recess
Costodiaphragmatic recess
Mediastinal recess
Lumbodiaphragmatic recess

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Pleural cupula

Located at the thoracic inlet where the pleura reflects from the costal wall to the cranial mediastinum

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Costomediastinal recess

At junction where the costal pleura reflects from the ventral thoracic wall and extends dorsally bilaterally

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Costodiaphragmatic recess

Junction where the costal pleura reflects onto the surface of the diaphragm

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Mediastinal recess

Located between the R mediastinal pleura and the plica vena cavae (accessory lobe of right lung is located here)

Lumbodiaphragmatic recess

Region where pleura extends ventrally from the caudal and dorsal thoracic walls to the crura of the diaphragm

Spans the lumbocostal arch so there isn’t a true opening

Fibrous pericardium

Dense CT sac

What does the cranial mediastinum continue as?

The cervical visceral space

What are the dorsal and ventral boundaries of the cervical visceral space?

Dorsal: longus capitis & longus coli Ventral: sternocephalicus & sternothyrohyoideus

What are the contents of the cervical visceral space?

``` Esophagus Trachea Thyroid and parathyroid glands Recurrent laryngeal nerves Tracheal lymph nodes Carotid sheath Common carotid artery Vagosympathetic trunk Internal jugular vein ```

What are the contents of the mediastinum?

``` Trachea Thymus Esophagus Phrenic nerves Vagus nerves Vagal trunk Paravertebral chain of ganglia Heart Aorta Pulmonary trunk Right azygous vein Thoracic duct Tracheobronchial lymph node ```

What are the three components of the pericardium?

Parietal pericardium Fibrous pericardium Pericardial mediastinal pleura

What are the components of the conducting system?

Trachea | Bronchial tree

What is the structure of the trachea?

Comprised of incomplete cartilaginous rings that are connected by tracheal ligaments Trachealis muscle completes the ring dorsally

Carina

This is the partition between the right and left principal bronchi at their origin from the trachea

Principal bronchi

Left and right originate where the trachea bifurcates

Lobar bronchi

Branch from the principal bronchi and supply the lobes of the lung

Segmental bronchi

Branch from the lobar bronchi and supply bronchopulmonary segments

Bronchioles

Branches of the segmental bronchi which ultimately terminate as respiratory bronchioles (beginning of exchange system)

What makes up the respiratory bronchioles?

Alveolar duct Alveolar sac Alveolus

What is the functional blood supply of the lungs?

Pulmonary arteries and veins

What is the nutritive supply of the lungs?

Bronchoesophageal artery and azygous vein

How many lobes does the left lung have?

Carnivores: cranial (divided), caudal Ruminants: cranial (divided), caudal Horse: cranial and caudal lobe

How many lobes are in the right lung?

Carnivores: cranial, middle, caudal, accessory Ruminants: divided cranial, middle, caudal, accessory Horse: cranial, caudal, accessory (no middle)

Cardiac notch

Notch in the lungs where the heart rests

Where do you listen to the heart on the left side in relation to the notch?

Canine: between 3 & 4 intercostal space Ruminants: same Horse: between the 3 & 6 spaces

Where do you listen to the heart in relation to the cardiac notch on the right side?

Canine: within the 4 intercostal space, extends to 5 Ruminants: between 3 & 4 Horse: same

Hilus

Area of lung that is perforated by vessels, nerves and bronchi

Pulmonary ligament

Double layer of connecting pleura extending from mediastinal pleura to the visceral pleura of lungs

What is the nerve supply of the lungs?

Autonomic (SNS & PSNS) | Sensory (stretch receptors)

What are the four lymph nodes associated with the lungs?

Left tracheobronchial lymph node Right tracheobronchial ln Middle tracheobronchial ln Pulmonary ln

What are the branches of the aorta?

Ascending Aortic arch Descending

What makes up the brachiocephalic trunk?

Left common carotid artery Right common carotid artery Right subclavian artery

What are the four branches of the subclavian artery?

Vertebral artery Costocervical trunk Superficial cervical artery Internal thoracic artery

What makes up the descending aorta?

Bronchoesophageal artery | Dorsal intercostal arteries

What does the costocervical trunk supply?

The first three dorsal intercostal spaces and muscles of the neck

What does the vertebral artery supply?

Supplies the brain

What does the superficial cervical artery supply?

Structures of the neck

What are the species differences of the azygous vein?

Dog and horse: right only Pig: left only Ruminants: right and left