thoracic wall Flashcards
thorax location
between the neck and diaphragm muscle
thorax shape
a barrel that is narrow at the top and wider at the bottom
components of the thoracic cavity
contains the thymus, heart, lungs, trachea, esophagus, nerves and vessels
components of the thoracic wall
surrounds contents of the thoracic cavity
posterior boundary of the thoracic wall
T1 through T12 vertebral bodies and their intervening intervertebral discs
lateral boundary of the thoracic wall
12 pairs of ribs and their costal cartilages
anterior boundary of the thoracic wall
sternum
superior boundary of the thoracic wall
“thoracic inlet”
thoracic inlet
a small opening bounded by T1 vertebral body, inner margins of ribs 1 and their costal cartilages, and the manubrium of the sternum
slopes obliquely downward from posterior to anterior; forms a plane; apices of the lungs rise through this inlet to the roots of the neck
inferior boundary of the thoracic cavity
“thoracic outlet”
thoracic outlet
demarcatd by the diaphragm muscle, a parachute-shaped muscle that arises from the inner margins of the thoracic cage, T12 vertebra, and ribs 12
the diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity. because the diaphragm arises partly from ribs 12 and domes upward at a steep angle, it is lower posteriorly than anteriorly
manubrium
has a jugular notch, clavicular notches for articulation iwth the clavicles,and articulates with the costal cartilages of ribs 1 and 2. the first sternocostal joints are primary cartilaginous joints in which cartilage is fused to bone, allowing no movement
body of the sternum
articulates with the manubrium at the sternal angle; the sternal angle is located at the manubriosternal joint (a secondary cartilaginous joint that allows some movement); costal cartilages of ribs 2 articulate at the sternal angle, and the costal cartilages of ribs 3-7 articulate with the sternum inferior to the sternal angle; stenocostal joints 2-7 are all synovial joints and are all moveable
xiphoid process
articulates with the body at the xiphisternal joint
sternal angle
forms a horizontal palpable ridge of the chest and is a landmark for counting ribs and counting intercostal spaces
counting ribs
begin with ribs 2 at the sernal angle and move inferiorly, counting each successive rib
counting intercostal spaces
there are 11 intercostal spaces and each is named by the number of rib above
transverse thoracic plane
marks the level of the intervertebral disc between T4 and T5 vertebrae, the bifurcation of the trachea, and the beginning and end of the aortic arch
true ribs
ribs 1-7; articulate directly with the sternum
false ribs
ribs 8-10; articulate indirectly witht he sternum; each costal cartilage joins the one immediately above; costal cartilages of ribs 7-10 form a costal margin on each side of the thoracic cage
floating ribs
ribs 11&12 - no articulation with the sternum
typical ribs coponents
head
neck
articular tubercle
shaft
head of ribs
articulates with vertebral bodies (of the same number and the one above) and the intervening intervertebral disc at the costoverterbal joint (synovial joint)
neck of ribs
between the head and tubercle
articular tubercle
articulates with the transverse process of the vertebra (of the same number) at the costotransverse joint (synovial joint)
shaft of the ribs
thin and curved; maximum curvature occurs at the angle; internal surface has a costal groove along its inferior border for passage of intercostal nerve and vessels forward; ends in a depression for articulation with the costal cartilage
atypical ribs
ribs 1, 2, 10, 11, 12
lack one or more features of a typical rib
inspiratory movements
increase thoracic cavity size and lower its pressure so air can flow down the respiratory passages into the lungs
main inspiratory movement
contraction of the diaphragm; the diaphragm drops on contraction, increasing the vertical dimension of the thoracic cavity
pump handle movement
forced inspiration
elevation of upper ribs moves the sternum up and forward, increasing the anteroposterior dimension of the thoracic cavity
bucket handle movement
forced inspiration
elevation of lower ribs increases the transverse dimension of the thoracic cavity, “bucket handle” movement
expiratory movements
opposite to inspiratory movements
intercostal muscles
muscles of the thoracic wall