Thorax

Question 1

What shape is the thorax?

Answer 1

Conical

Smaller at the top and wider at the base

Question 2

Where is the superior thoracic aperture located?

Answer 2

In the root of the neck

Question 3

What are does the thorax cover?

Answer 3

From the sternum to the vertebral column (T1 to T12)

Question 4

What is the central portion of the thorax called?

Answer 4

The mediastinum

Question 5

What does the thorax contain?

Answer 5

Heart, lungs, pleura, blood vessels nerves

Question 6

Where is the inferior thoracic aperture?

Answer 6

Sits on the diaphragm

Question 7

What does the diaphragm separate?

Answer 7

The thorax from the abdomen

Question 8

Where do you place your hands for chest compressions when carrying out CPR?

Answer 8

On the xiphoid process of the sternum

Question 9

What are the 3 different parts of the sternum?

Answer 9

Manubrium, body of sternum, xiphoid process

Question 10

Which rib is the sternal angle located? at?

Answer 10

2nd rib

Question 11

Which ribs are termed ‘true ribs’?

Answer 11

Ribs 1-7

Contain costal cartilage

Question 12

Describe ‘true ribs’

Answer 12

Ribs 1-7

Contain costal cartilage that joins onto the manubrium, the body of sternum and the xiphoid process

Question 13

Which ribs are termed ‘false ribs’?

Answer 13

Ribs 8-10

Hook onto other parts of the costal cartilage

Question 14

Which ribs are termed ‘floating ribs’?

Answer 14

Ribs 11-12

Don’t join onto any costal cartilage

Question 15

What are the 3 compartments of the thorax?

Answer 15

Right and left pleural cavities and the mediastinum

Question 16

If you damage ribs 11-12, which organ could rupture?

Answer 16

The spleen

Question 17

Which great vessels are present in the thorax?

Answer 17

Venae cava
Pulmonary trunk and main branches
Pulmonary veins
Aorta

Question 18

What is the first branch of the aorta and what does it supply?

Answer 18

The coronary arteries

Supply the heart

Question 19

What does the left (external) common carotid artery supply?

Answer 19

The face

Question 20

What does the right (internal) common carotid artery supply?

Answer 20

80% of brain blood supply

Question 21

What is the first branch of the arch of aorta called?

Answer 21

The brachio-cephalic trunk

Question 22

What type of blood do pulmonary arteries contain?

Answer 22

Deoxygenated

Question 23

Which vein drains the head and neck?

Answer 23

Internal jugular vein

Question 24

Where do the superior and inferior vena cava drain?

Answer 24

Right atrium

Question 25

Where does the pulmonary vein drain?

Answer 25

Left atrium

Question 26

Where is the sympathetic trunk located in the thorax?

Answer 26

Back of our chest

Question 27

What is the diaphragm?

Answer 27

A big skeletal muscle

Musculotendinous structure

Question 28

What shape is the diaphragm?

Answer 28

Dome shaped

Higher on the right than the left due to the position of the liver

Question 29

Which nerve supplies the diaphragm?

Answer 29

Cervical 3,4,5

Question 30

What type of nerve fibres does the phrenic nerve contain?

Answer 30

Motor and sensory

Question 31

Describe the shape of the diaphragm on inspiration and expiration

Answer 31

• On inspiration, the muscle flattens to increase the capacity of the thoracic cavity
• On expiration, the muscle returns to its dome shape

Question 32

How is air expelled from the lungs?

Answer 32

Diaphragm relaxes

Elastic recoil of the lungs

Question 33

Why does the aorta not pass through the diaphragm?

Answer 33

It would get squashed