Thorax Flashcards
3 key functions of the thorax
- breathing
- protection (to heart, lungs, vessels)
- conduit (structures pass through it)
if the thorax is thought to be a cylinder. what is the space called looking into the thorax/ cylinder
the thoracic cavity
the thoracic cavity is divided into…
the right pleural cavity (surrounding the right lung)
mediastinum
the left pleural cavity (surrounding the left lung)
what lies on the posterior portion of thoracic cage
the 12 thoracic vertebrae
what lines on the anterior portion of the thoracic cage
the sternum
costal cartilages
the sternum is made up of 3 structures. what are they
the manubrium of sternum
the body of sternum
the xiphoid process
what clinical landmark does the sternal angle mark
the point at which costal cartilage of rib 2 joins with the sternum
what are the typical features of thoracic vertebra
superior articular process transverse process spinous process body of vertebra - heart shaped demi- facet for rib head inferior articular process
which costal cartilages articulate with the sternum
the costal cartilages of ribs 1-VII (7)
which costal cartilages articulate with the costal cartilage above
the costal cartilages of ribs 8-10 (viii-x)
2 functions of the costal cartilages
- mobility to thorax
2. elasticity to thorax
may be typical or a-typical. which ribs are typical ribs
ribs 3-9
which ribs are atypical
ribs 1, 2, 10, 11, 12
what happens to cartilage as we get older
gets calcified
the thoracic cavity is subdivided into…
right pleural cavity
mediastinum
left pleural cavity
each pleural cavity has 2 layers of a mesothelial membrane called pleura. what are the 2 pleura called…
visceral pleura
parietal pleura
the mediastinum of the thoracic cavity is divided further into…
superior mediastinum
inferior mediastinum- both divided by the sternal angle (horizontal/ transverse plane)
the inferior region of the mediastinum if further divided into…
anterior mediastinum
middle
posterior
what structures are found in the superior mediastinum
aorta, pulomnary trunk, superior vena cava thymus trachea oesophagus vagus nerve phrenic nerves left recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve thoracic duct
what is the function of thymus in children
develop T-cells
shrinks with age
what is found in the middle mediastinum
heart
pericardium
- pulmonary trunk, ascending aorta, terminal part of superior vena cava
- the 2 bronchi
what is found in the posterior mediastinum
thoracic aorta and its branches oesophagus thoracic duct azygous/ hemi-azygous veins lymph nodes thoracic splanchnic nerves sympathetic trunks
function of the azygous vein
transport DE-oxygenated blood into the superior vena cava
what is the pericardium
a fibrous outer layer
2 serous inner layers enclosing the hear
when the heart is seen in-sit, which chamber of the heart cannot be seen
left atrium
what 3 branches arise from the aortic arch
- brachiocephalic artery
- left common carotid artery
- left subclavian artery
the right and left lungs both have lobes. what are they
superior and inferior lobes
what fissure divides the superior and inferior lobes of the right and left lungs
the oblique fissure
the right lobe has an extra 3rd lobe. what is it
the middle lobe
what fissure causes the middle lobe in the right lung
horizontal fissure
compare the sizes of the left lung to the right lung
left lung is smaller and narrower
left lung has a cardiac notch on lateral view
the pulmonary arteries deliver…
de-oxygenated blood to the lungs
the pulmonary veins deliver
oxygenated blood to the left atrium
what and where is the hilum of the lung
on the medial surface of the lung
next to the heart
it is where the blood vessels enter and exist the lung
where the primary bronchus enters the lung
the inferior aspect of the hilum has a structure called..
the pulmonary ligament
- where the visceral and parietal pleura meet
what structures are found on the hilum of the lung
- the pulmonary artery (de-oxygenated blood)
- primary bronchus (which divides into the secondary bronchi)
- pulmonary veins (oxygenated blood)
- pulmonary ligament
