Thorax

Question 1

Where is the thorax?

Answer 1

The area of the body between the neck and abdomen

Question 2

What is the thoracic cavity?

Answer 2

Hollow space within the chest

Question 3

What are the boundaries of the thoracic cavity?

Answer 3

Anteriorly it’s the sternum
Posteriorly it’s the vertebrae column (T1 - T12)
Laterally it’s the ribs

Question 4

The lungs are part of the thoracic cavity. What are the lungs covered in?

Answer 4

Pleura
Outer layer is parietal layer of pleura
Inner layer is visceral layer of pleura
Space between the layers of the pleura is called the pleural cavity

Question 5

What is pleural cavity?

Answer 5

A potential space formed by pleura surrounds each lung

Question 6

The heart is part of the thoracic cavity. What is the heart covered in?

Answer 6

Pericardium covers the heart
Visceral pericardium is the inner layer
Parietal pericardium is the outer layer
Between the layers, the space is the pericardial cavity

Question 7

What does the mediastinum contain?

Answer 7

Everything in the thorax except the lungs and pleura

Question 8

What are the compartments of the thorax?

Answer 8

Left cavity
Right cavity
Mediastinum (space between these cavities)

Question 9

What type of bone is the sternum?

Answer 9

A flat bone

Question 10

What is the sternal angle?

Answer 10

Sternal angle/Angle of Louis
It’s a joint formed by the articulation between the manubrium and body of sternum

Question 11

What role do the external and internal intercostal muscles have in inspiration and expiration?

Answer 11

External intercostal muscles elevate the ribs during forced inspiration
Internal intercostal muscles elevate the ribs during forced expiration

Question 12

Describe the location of the heart

Answer 12

Located in the mediastinum of the thorax
Behind the sternum
Between 2nd and 6th ribs
Between T5-T8

Question 13

What is the apex of the heart and where is it located?

Answer 13

Apex is the bottom of the heart
It’s located at the 5th intercostal space in the left mid-clavicular line

Question 14

What are the main heart valves?

Answer 14

Aortic valve
Pulmonary valve
Tricuspid valve
Mitral/bicuspid valve

Question 15

Where are the auscultatory sites

Answer 15

aortic valve - right second intercostal
space
pulmonary valve - left second intercostal
space
tricuspid valve - left fourth, fifth
intercostal spaces
mitral valve - apex beat

Question 16

What is the pericardium and what is it made of?

Answer 16

Pericardium is the loose fitting sac surrounding the heart
Pericardium is made of fibrous pericardium (tough, loose-fitting, inelastic) and serous pericardium

Question 17

What does serous pericardium contain?

Answer 17

The parietal layer (which lines the outside of the fibrous pericardium) and the visceral layer (which adheres to the outside of the heart)
Pericardial space/cavity is between the parietal and visceral layers

Question 18

What are the ventricles of the heart separated by?

Answer 18

Interventricular septum

Question 19

Which of the cardiac valves are atrioventricular valves?

Answer 19

Tricuspid valve and bicuspid/mitral valve

Question 20

What does cardiomegaly mean?

Answer 20

When the heart has become enlarged and occupies more than half of the thoracic shadow

Question 21

Which of the cardiac valves are semilunar valves?

Answer 21

Pulmonary valve and aorta valve

Question 22

Where is the aorta valve?

Answer 22

Between left ventricle and aorta

Question 23

Where is the pulmonary valve?

Answer 23

Between right ventricle and pulmonary trunk/pulmonary artery

Question 24

What are the 4 cardiac valves?

Answer 24

Pulmonary valve
Aorta valve
Bicuspid/mitral valve
Tricuspid valve

Question 25

Where is the bicuspid/mitral valve and how many cusps does it have?

Answer 25

Bicuspid/mitral valve is between the left atrium and left ventricle
It has 2 cusps

Question 26

Where is the tricuspid valve and how many cusps does it have?

Answer 26

Tricuspid valve is between right atrium and right ventricle
It’s connected to the ventricular papillary muscle via chordae tendinae
It has 3 cusps

Question 27

What are the functions of heart valves?

Answer 27

To permit blood flow in one direction during circulation
Prevents backflow of blood