Thorax Flashcards
Where is the thorax?
The area of the body between the neck and abdomen
What is the thoracic cavity?
Hollow space within the chest
What are the boundaries of the thoracic cavity?
Anteriorly it’s the sternum
Posteriorly it’s the vertebrae column (T1 - T12)
Laterally it’s the ribs
The lungs are part of the thoracic cavity. What are the lungs covered in?
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
What is pleural cavity?
A potential space formed by pleura surrounds each lung
The heart is part of the thoracic cavity. What is the heart covered in?
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
What does the mediastinum contain?
Everything in the thorax except the lungs and pleura
What are the compartments of the thorax?
Left cavity
Right cavity
Mediastinum (space between these cavities)
What type of bone is the sternum?
A flat bone
What is the sternal angle?
Sternal angle/Angle of Louis
It’s a joint formed by the articulation between the manubrium and body of sternum
What role do the external and internal intercostal muscles have in inspiration and expiration?
External intercostal muscles elevate the ribs during forced inspiration
Internal intercostal muscles elevate the ribs during forced expiration
Describe the location of the heart
Located in the mediastinum of the thorax
Behind the sternum
Between 2nd and 6th ribs
Between T5-T8
What is the apex of the heart and where is it located?
Apex is the bottom of the heart
It’s located at the 5th intercostal space in the left mid-clavicular line
What are the main heart valves?
Aortic valve
Pulmonary valve
Tricuspid valve
Mitral/bicuspid valve
Where are the auscultatory sites
