thoracic surface anatomy Flashcards
what are the bones that articulate at the sternal angle?
the manubrium, sternum and costal cartilage
what type of joint is present at the sternal angle between the manubrium and the sternum?
symarthrotic (secondary cartilagenous)
what are the soft tissue structures underlying the sternal angle?
R - rib 2
A - aortic arch
T - tracheal bifurcation
P - pulmonary trunk bifurcation
L - left recurrent laryngeal nerve and ligamentum arteriosum
A - azygous vein
C - cardiac plexus
T - thoracic duct
can you palpate rib 1?
no because it lies under the clavicle
where can ribs 11 and 12 be felt from and why?
ribs 11 and 12 can only be felt from the posterior aspect of the thoracic wall because they are floating ribs
what is the pleural cavity?
the space between the partial pleural that lines the inside of the thoracic cage and the visceral pleura that passes over the surface of each lung
where in relation to the clavicles do the pleural cavities extend?
2-3cm above the middle of the medial third of the clavicle
where does the anterior border of the pleural cavity reach the midline?
at the sternal angle
where does the R pleural cavity move away from the midline?
at the 6th costal cartilage
where does the L pleural cavity move away from the midline?
at the 4th costal cartilage
where does the parietal pleura cross the mid clavicular line?
at the 8th costal cartilage
explain the pattern of the visceral pleura
the visceral pleura follows the same pattern as the parietal pleura except it does not pass into the costodiaphragmatic recess and is 2 rib spaces higher in the midclavicualr and midaxillary line
why can percussion be used to detect the borders of the liver and the heart?
because organs are denser than the lungs and so percussion notes will change when percussing over them
where does the apex of the heart usually lie?
in the midclavicualr line in the 5th intercostal space
why can’t you auscultate directly over the heart valves?
because they lie under the sternum
