Thoracic Osteology, Arthrology, and Chondrology

Question 1

What are the boundaries and contents of the superior thoracic aperture?

Answer 1

Boundaries : 1st paired ribs, superior manubrium of sternum, T1

Contents : trachea, esophagus, nerves and vessels supplying head, neck, and UE

Question 2

What are the boundaries and content of the inferior thoracic aperture?

Answer 2

Boundaries : T12, 11th and 12th paired ribs, 7-10 costal cartilages, xiphisternal joint

contents : esophagus, inferior vena cava, aorta

Question 3

What are the 3 primary divisions of the thoracic cavity?

Answer 3

• right pleural cavity
• left pleural cavity
• mediastinum

Question 4

What are the contents of the mediastinum?

Answer 4

heart, thoracic great vessels, trachea, thoracic esophagus, thymus

Question 5

What are the 4 features of the manubrium of the sternum?

Answer 5

1) suprasternal notch
2) sternal angle
3) clavicular notch (2)
4) costal notch

Question 6

What are the 3 features of the body of the sternum?

Answer 6

1) xiphoid/sternal joint
2) costal notches
3) transverse ridges

Question 7

What is the 1 feature of the xiphoid process?

Answer 7

costal notch

Question 8

What are the 3 types of ribs?

and what ribs are classified as such?

Answer 8

1) true (vertebrocostal) 1-7
2) false (vertebrochondral) 8-10
3) floating 11&12

Question 9

What ribs are typical ribs?

What are the 4 main features of typical ribs?

Answer 9

3-7

1) head - articulates with thoracic vertebrae
- -> superior articulating facet (w/ inferior costal demifact of vertebrae 1 seg up)
- -> inferior articulating facet (w/ superior costal demifacet at same segment)
- -> crest of head - separates two facets
2) Neck (bone b/w head and tubercle
3) tubercle
- -> articular facet - articulates with transverse costal facet of segment above
- -> nonarticular part - attachment site for lateral costotransverse l.
4) body
- -> costal groove - houses intercostal nerves and vessels
- -> costal angle - anterolateral turning point of rib

Question 10

What are the atypical ribs?

Answer 10

1,2,10-12

Question 11

What is unique about the first rib?

Answer 11

wide, flat

• groove for subclavian v. (anterior)
• groove for subclavian a. (posterior)
• tubercle for anterior scalene m.
• head = single facet

Question 12

What is unique about the 2nd rib?

Answer 12

-tuberosity of Serratus anterior m.

Question 13

What is unique about the 10th rib?

Answer 13

-head = single facet

Question 14

What is unique about the 11th and 12th ribs?

Answer 14

• head = single facet
• NO tubercle
• NO neck

Question 15

Which ribs are most commonly fractured?
Where are they most commonly fractured?
What kind of issues can they cause?

Answer 15

1) middle ribs
2) just anterior to costal angle
3) damage to internal organs, cause sever pain with treating, coughing, sneezing, laughing

Question 16

What are supernumerary ribs and where do they occur?

Answer 16

• extra ribs in cervical or lumbar regions
• cervical : can produce neural and circulation problems based in relation to brachial plexus and subclavian a.
• lumbar : radiographic abnormalities

Question 17

What are the 7 features of a thoracic vertebrae and their functions?

Answer 17

1) body - articulates with 12 ribs (superior and inferior costal facets
2) foramen - houses SC
3) arch - pedicle and lamina
4) spinous process - inferiorly
5) transverse process - transverse costal facet, cone to tubercle of ribs
6) superior articulating process - articulates with inferior artic. process of vert above
7) inferior articulating process - articulates with superior artic. process of vert below

Question 18

What ribs have their own costal cartilages that attach directly to the sternum?

What ribs attach to the costal cartilage of the rib above?

Answer 18

1-7

8-10

Question 19

Manubriosternal joint:

type?
bones?
ligaments?

Answer 19

symphysis

manubrium of sternum and body of sternum

none

Question 20

Xiphisternal Joint:

type?
bones?
ligaments?

Answer 20

synchondrosis
body of sternum and diploid process
none

Question 21

1st Sternocostal joint:

type?
bones?
ligaments?

Answer 21

synchondrosis
1st rib and manubrium of sternum
anterior and posterior radiate sternocostal l.

Question 22

2-7th sternocostal joint:

type?
bones?
ligaments?

Answer 22

planar synovial
2-7th ribs with the body of sternum
anterior and posterior radiate sternocostal l.

Question 23

costovertebral joint:

type?
bones?
ligaments?

Answer 23

planar synovial
ie T6 and T7 with rib 7
superior costotransverse l. (tp of T6 to rib 7) ; radiate L (rib to both vertebrae) ; interarticular l. (crest of head of rib to IV disc) ; lateral costotransverse l. (TP of T7 to rib 7 tubercle nonarticular part)

Question 24

Costochondral joint:

type?
bones?
ligaments?

Answer 24

synchondrosis
rib and its costal cartilage
none

Question 25

Interchondral joints:

type?
bones?
ligaments?

Answer 25

planar synovial : rib 8 & 9
fibrous : rib 10
costal cartilage to costal cartilage
none

Question 26

Vertebral Joint:

type?
bones?
ligaments?

Answer 26

Symphysis (cartilaginous) : IV disc to vertebral body
Zygapophyseal (planar synovial) : articulating process of adjacent vertebrae
vertebrae and IV discs

Supraspinous -> on top of SP
interspinous -> w/in SP
intertransverse -> b/w TP
liagmentum flavum-> lateral canal
posterior longitudinal -> anterior SC, prevent disc herniation
anterior longitudinal -> anterior vertebral bosy, prevent hyperextension