Thorax Flashcards
what is the thorax?
the chest
what does the thorax include?
sternum, costal cartilages, ribs, thoracic vertebrae and structures they enclose
what shape is the thorax?
conical shaped
what is the opening at the top of the thorax called?
superior thoracic aperture
what closes the inferior thoracic aperture?
the diaphragm
what are the three compartments of the thorax?
right and left pleural cavities and the mediastinum
why are ribs 1-7 true ribs?
they have costal cartilage?
why are ribs 8-10 fake?
they hook onto other areas of the costal cartilage and then the body of the sternum which makes them much weaker
what is the first branch of the aorta?
coronary artery
what is the brachio-cephalic trunk?
the first branch of the ARCH of the aorta
what does the internal jugular vein do?
drains all head and neck structures
where do muscle fibres in the diaphragm arise from?
radially from the costal margins and converge to insert into the central tendon
why is the diaphragm higher on the right than the left?
the position of the liver underneath
what nerve supplies the diaphragm?
phrenic nerve
what happens to the diaphragm on inspiration and why?
muscle flattens to increase the capacity of the thoracic cavity
