Thorax Anatomy Flashcards
Borders of the superior thoracic aperture
- Posterior = body of T1
- Lateral = medial border of 1st rib
- Anterior = manubrium
Borders of the inferior thoracic aperture
- Posterior = body of T12
- Posterolateral = rib 12 and distal end of rib 11
- Anterolateral = distal ends of ribs 7-10 and costal cartilage
- Anterior = xiphoid process
Characteristics of a thoracic vertebrae
- Heart-shaped body
- Long spinous process
- Circular foramen
- Broad lamina
- Flat superior articular surfaces
- Club-shaped transverse processes
What are the true ribs and why
- Ribs 1-7
- Articulate with the sterum directly
What are the false ribs and why
- Ribs 8-10
- Articulate anteriorly with the costal cartilage of the ribs above
What are the floating ribs and why
- Ribs 11 and 12
- Free anteriorly
List the 3 articulations of ribs 2-9
- Superior costal facet (with head of its own rib)
- Inferior costal facet (with head of rib below)
- Transverse costal facet (with tubercle of its own rib)
Describe the posterior formation of a typical rib
- Head - expanded with two articular facets
- Neck - separates head from tubercle
- Tubercle
Which rib border contains the costal groove
Inferior border
Describe the scalene tubercle of the 1st rib
- Two grooves present on superior surface
- Anterior caused by subclavian vein
- Posterior by subclavian artery and lowest trunk of brachial plexus
- Functions as attachment of scalenus anterior
What structures are attached to the 1st rib
- First digitation of serratus anterior
- Sibson’s fascia to inner border
Fracture of which ribs risk splenic trauma
9-11
Why does rib notching occur in coarctation of the aorta
- Collateral vessels develop above and below the blockage
- Superior intercostal artery supplies blood to intercostal arteries of aorta to bypass blockage
- Intercostal vessels dilate and erode the lower border of the ribs
Compromise caused by cervical rib
- Post-stenotic dilatation of the subclavian artery
- Subclavian aneurysm
- Subclavian vein thrombosis
- C8/T1 paraesthesia
Which costal cartilages articulate with the manubrium
First and upper parts of sternum
What is the angle of Louis
Articulation between body of sternum and manubrium
Anatomical relations of the manubrium
- Anterior boundary of superior mediastinum
- Lowest part related to arch of aorta
- Left brachicephalic artery and vein, left common carotid, left subclavian
- Laterally to pleura
Which ribs does the body of the sternum articulate with
Contains facets for ribs 2-7 (demifacets for 2 and 7)
What type of cartilage is costal cartilage
Hyaline
Describe the costovertebral joints
- Facets of the rib head with facets of the vertebrae above and below
- Contain two synovial compartments divided by the intra-articular ligament
- It is a synovial plane joint
Describe the costotransverse joints with its ligaments
- It is a synovial plane joint
- Between rib tubercle and transverse process of corresponding vertebrae
- Costotranverse ligament
- Lateral costotransverse ligament
- Superior costotransverse ligament
Describe the sternocostal joints
- Between rib and sternum
- 1st is a primary cartilaginous jount (symphysis)
- 2nd to 7th are plane synovial joints
- Joint between 2nd rib and sternum has two compartments separated by an intra-articular ligament
What type of joint is the manubriosternal joint
Secondary cartilaginous joint (symphysis)
Outline the 3 muscles contained within the intercostal spaces
- External intercostal - fibres pass downwards. Most active on INSPIRATION. Moves ribs superiorly.
- Internal intercostal - fibres pass backwards. Most active on EXPIRATION. Moves ribs inferiorly.
- Innermost intercostals - may cover more than one intercostal space
Innervation of the 3 layers of intercostal muscles
All are innervated by the intercostal nerves of T1-11
Describe the subcostal muscles
- Same plane as innermost intercostals
- Span multiple ribs
- Extend from innermost surface of one rib to internal surface of next
Describe the transversus thoracis muscles
- Found on deep surface of anterior thoracic wall
- Same plane as innermost intercostals
- Originate from xiphoid process, inferior part of body of sternum, adjacent costal cartilages of lower true ribs
- Pass superiorly and laterally to insert into costal cartilages of ribs 3-6
List the order of the neurovascular bundle from superior to inferior
- V = intercostal vein
- A = intercostal artery
- N = intercostal nerve
Origin of the posterior intercostal arteries
- Upper two = supreme intercostal, branch of costocervical branch of subclavian
- Lower nine = posterior surface of thoracic aorta
Origin of the anterior intercostal arteries
Directly or indirectly as lateral branches of the internal thoracic arteries
Describe the course of the internal thoracic artery
- Branch of subclavian
- Passes anteriorly over dome of pleura and through superior thoracic aperture
- Descends down deep aspect of thoracic wall 1cm lateral to the sternum
- Divides into superior epigastric and musculophrenic artery at level of 6th intercostal space
What artery supplies the intercostal spaces below the 6th rib
Musculophrenic artery
Describe the course and distribution of the anterior intercostal arteries
- Supply the upper 6 ribs
- Have two branches:
1. Passes below margin of upper rib in subcostal groove
2. Passes above margin of lower rib to meet collateral branch of posterior intercostal
Outline the venous drainage of the intercostal spaces
- Intercostal veins
- Azygous vein posteriorly or internal thoracic veins anteriorly
- Internal throacics drain into brachiocephalic and azygous drain into SVC
What supplies sensory innervation to the skin overlying the upper thoracic wall
Cutaneous branches of the supraclavicular plexus which descends from the cervical plexus
Origin of the subcostal nerve
Anterior ramus of T12
List the 3 divisions of the muscular diaphragm
- Sternal part
- Costal part
- Lumbar part
Attachment of the sternal part of the diaphragm
Xiphoid process
Attachment of the costal part of the diaphragm
Internal surfaces of the inferior 6 costal cartilages and their adjoining ribs and forms the domes of the diaphragm
Constituents of the lumbar part of the muscular diaphragm
- Medial arcuate ligament
- Lateral arcuate ligament
- Three superior lumbar vertebrae
Describe the medial arcuate ligament
- Condensation of fascia over psoas major
- Spans between lumbar vertebral bodies and tip of L1 transverse process
- Medial borders join over aorta to form median arcuate ligament
Origin of the right crus
Front of the bodies of L1-3 and their discs
Origin of the left crus
L1-2
Contents of the aortic opening
- Abdominal aorta
- Thoracic duct
- Azygous vein
Level of aortic opening
T12
Site of aortic opening
Behind medial arcuate ligament
Contents of oesophageal opening
- Oesophagus
- Vagus nerve
- Branches of the left gastric artery and veins
Level of the oesophageal opening
T10
Contents of the caval opening
- IVC
2. Right phrenic nerve
Level of the caval opening
T8
Describe the sternocostal triangle of the diaphragm
- Situated between sternal and costal attachments of the diaphragm
- Transmits lymphatic vessels and superior epigastric vessels
Arterial supply of the superior surface of the diaphragm
- Superior phrenic arteries from thoracic aorta
- Musculophrenic arteries
- Pericardiophrenics
Arterial supply of the inferior surface of the diaphragm
Inferior phrenic arteries from the abdominal aorta
Venous drainage of the superior surface of diaphragm
Musculophrenic and pericardiphrenic veins drain into the internal thoracic veins
Venous drainage of the inferior surface of the diaphragm
- Right inferior phrenic vein drains into IVC
- Left inferior phrenic vein drains into IVC and suprarenal vein
Lymphatic drainage of superior surface of diaphragm
In order of flow:
- Diaphragmatic nodes
- Phrenic nodes
- Parasternal nodes and posterior mediastinal nodes
Lymphatic drainage of inferior surface of diaphragm
Superior lumbar lymph nodes
Motor innervation of the diaphragm
Phrenic (C3-5)
Sensory innervation of the diaphragm
- Centrally = phrenic
- Peripherally = intercostal nerves (T5-11) and sub-costal (T12)
Describe the bucket-handle action of the ribs
Raising of ribs 4-7 increases the transverse diameter of the thorax
What is the pulmonary ligament
Fold of loose pleura below the root of the lung which permits distension of the pulmonary vein
List the 3 parts of the parietal pleura
- Costal
- Mediastinal
- Diaphragmatic
What separates the costal parietal pleura from the thoracic wall
Endothoracic fascia
Where does the parietal pleura reflect to become visceral pleura
Root of the lung
What connects the diaphragmatic parietal pleura to the muscular part of the diaphragm
Phrenicopleural fascia
Describe the pleural cupula
Dome of cervical pleura at the apex of the lung - reinforced by Sibson’s fascia (suprapleural membrane) that attaches to the internal borders of the 1st rib and transverse process of C7
Features of the costal surface of the lung
- Large, smooth and convex
- Related to the costal pleura
- Posterior part is related to the bodies of the thoracic vertebrae
Features of the mediastinal surface of the lung
- Concave
- Inclusive of the hilum
Features of the diaphragmatic surface of the lung
- Base of the lung
- Concave
Describe the anterior border of the lung
- Meeting of the costal and mediastinal surfaces anteriorly
- Indented by the cardiac notch on the left
Describe the inferior border of the lung
Circumscribes the diaphragmatic surface and separates it from the mediastinal and costal surfaces
Describe the posterior border of the lung
Meeting of the costal and mediastinal surfaces posteriorly
When during gestation is the diaphragm formed
Between 5th and 7th weeks
What is the diaphragm formed from embryologically
Progressive fusion of the septum transversum, pleuroperitoneal folds, and lateral muscular ingrowth
What is the origin of the central tendon of the diaphragm
Septum transversum
Which lung is larger
Right
Outline the structure of the right lung
- Three lobes = superior, middle, inferior
- Two fissures = right oblique, horizontal
- Mediastinal surface contains groove for oesophagus and cardiac impression
Outline the structure of the left lung
- Two lobes = superior and inferior
- One fissure = left oblique
- Infero-anterior tongue-like projection = lingula
- Anterior border contains cardiac notch
- Contains continuous groove for arch and descending aorta
Describe the structure of the lung root
- Pulmonary artery - superior left
- Superior pulmonary vein - anterior-most
- Inferior pulmonary vein - inferior-most
- Main bronchus - against and in the middle of the posterior boundary