Thoracic cavity, pleura and lungs (anat) Flashcards
What does the mediastinum contain?
Heart, large vessels, trachea, esophagus and nerves
What does the pulmonary cavities contain?
Lungs and pleurae
Thoracic cavity vs pulmonary cavity
Thoracic cavity is within the thoracic cage while pulmonary cavity is part of the thoracic cavity
Are the 2 layers of the pleura continuous?
Yes
What is the inner layer of the membrane?
Visceral pleura
What is the outer layer of the membrane?
Parietal pleura
Where is the costo-diaphragmatic recess located?
On both sides of the lung in the space btw costal and diaphragmatic pleura
Purpose of costo-diaphragmatic recess
Allows for expansion of lungs during inspiration
Clinical: use this recess to aspirate pleural fluid for diagnostic purpose
Purpose of costo-mediastinal recess
During respiratioin, anterior borders of lungs slide in and out of recess
Where does the cervical pleura extend into?
Root of the neck (2cm above clavicle) and meet behind the sternal angle at the 2nd intercostal cartilage -> continues down to 4th costal cartilage
What are the reflections of the left parietal pleura?
Diverge 1cm away from sternum at 6th costal cartilage -> curves laterally and reaches 8th rib at midclavicular line, 10th rib at midaxillary line and 12th rib at paravertebral line
What are the reflections of the right parietal pleura?
Same as the left parietal pleura except that the right layer continues to run till 6th costal cartilage behind sternum
Where is the lower limit of the lungs?
2 ribs above parietal pleura at midclavicular, midaxillary and paravertebral lines at level of 6th, 8th and 10th ribs respectively
Where is the upper limit of the lungs?
Follow outline of pleura
What kind of blood does pulmonary vein carry?
Oxygenated blood
- pulmonary vein is an exception to the rule
Which part of the lung does bronchial artery supply?
Lung tissue
What kind of blood does the pulmonary artery carry?
Deoxygenated blood
- exception to the rule
How do healthy lungs feel?
Light, soft and spongy
Which lung is larger and heavier?
Right lung
Why is the right lung shorter and wider?
Right dome of diaphragm is slightly higher
What are the 2 groups of blood vessels and what do they supply?
Pulmonary circulation -> supply lung
Systemic circulation -> supply rest of the body
Does systemic and pulmonary circulation happen simultaneously?
Yes
What does the pulmonary artery transport?
Deoxygenated blood from heart to lungs
What does the pulmonary vein transport?
Oxygenated blood from lungs to heart
What is the hilum of the lung?
Area on the mediastinal surface of the lung through which structures enter/leave the lung
What is the root of the lung?
Short tubular collection of structures that emerge at the hilum of each lung
What makes up the root of the lung?
Main bronchus, 2 pulmonary veins and 1 pulmonary artery
What surrounds the root of the lung?
Mediastinal pleura
Are the lungs inside the pleural cavity?
No, it is surrounded by the pleural sac
Which lung has a cardiac notch?
Left lung