Thorax clinical boxes + guide questions Flashcards
In elderly people, the costal cartilages undergo __________________, making them more radio_________
calcification; radiopaque
What ribs are more commonly fractured?
The middle ribs
What part of the thoracic wall moves freely when a pt has flail chest?
A sizable segment of the anterior or lateral parts of the wall
Describe the possible supernumerary ribs
1) Cervical ribs: in 1% of ppl; articulate with C7, clinically significant because they may compress spinal nerves C8 and T1, the inferior trunk of the brachial plexus (can cause tingling/ numbness on lateral forearm), or the subclavian artery (causing ischemic muscle pain)
2) Lumbar ribs: less common, only clinical significance is that they may confuse ID of vertebral levels in imaging
1) The surgical creation of an opening into the thoracic wall to enter the pleural cavity is called what?
2) What are the two types?
3) What is a better way to enter the thoracic cage?
4) What is the most common way to enter the thoracic cage?
1) Thoracotomy
2) Anterior and posterior thoracotomy
3) Laterally
4) With rib retraction (making intercostal space wider)
The sternal body is often used for what?
Bone marrow needle biopsy
1) What is sometimes cut at the median plane to gain wide entry into the thoracic cavity?
2) What are other ways this cavity can be accessed?
1) Sternum
2) Lateral thoracotomy (wide access) or thoracoscopy (less invasive)
1) What is the thoracic outlet?
2) What is a type of thoracic outlet syndrome? Describe it
1) Superior thoracic aperature (and its important arteries + nerves that pass into lower neck and upper limb)
2) Costoclavicular syndrome; compressed subclavian artery between clavicle and 1st rib causes pallor, coldness of upper limb, diminished radial pulse, esp when angle of neck and shoulder is increased.
1) What is a dislocated rib? When does it cause the most pain?
2) What is a rib separation? What are sometimes affected?
1) Rib slipping off sternum; during deep respiratory movements
2) A costochondral junction dislocation (between rib and its cartilage). In 3-10 ribs perichondrium and periosteum are sometimes torn, causing rib to move upward.
1) How can paralysis of the diaphragm be detected?
2) True or false: paralysis of one half of the diaphragm does not affect the other side because they’re innervated by different phrenic nerves
3) What happens during paralysis of diaphragm?
1) Radiographically by noting its paradoxical movement
2) True
3) The paralyzed half is pushed superiorly by abdominal viscera during inspiration (instead of descending) and descends during expiration
True or false: sternal fractures are uncommon, but when they happen the main concern is damage to the heart or underlying structures
True
stopped at 219/ 192
What provides sensation to central diaphragm, mediastinal pleura, and pericardium?
Phrenic nerve
Where do the recurrent laryngeal nerves branch off of the Vagus nerve on right and left side?
1) Right: at the level of the right subclavian artery, right recurrent wraps around subclavian artery.
2) Left: as the vagus nerve passes near the aortic arch, left recurrent wraps around aorta.
Superficially to the esophagus, the arch of aorta wraps around the carina of the ________
trachea
Aorta is slightly on the ___________ side of the vertebral bodies and SVC is slightly on the _____________side
left; right
What is the relationship of the esophagus and aorta in the posterior mediastinum relative to each other and the midline?
-Aorta is slightly on the left side of vertebral bodies and SVC is slightly on the right side
-Esophagus initially medial to the thoracic aorta, but crosses in front of it as it descends.
-As it approaches the diaphragm, it ends up anterolaterally to the aorta (further left than it).
Where do the presynaptic and postsynaptic sympathetic components of the cardiac plexus come from?
1) Presynaptic cell bodies: thoracic lateral horn T1-5(6)
2) Postsynaptic cell bodies: cervical and superior thoracic paravertebral ganglia
Where do the presynaptic and postsynaptic parasympathetic components of the cardiac plexus come from?
1) Presynaptic fibers: of the Vagus n., CN X
2) Postsynaptic cell bodies, (intrinsic ganglia): located near SA and AV node, along coronary arteries
What do sympathetic and parasympathetic input do to the heart conduction system?
-Sympathetic stimulation: increased rate and force, dilates coronary arteries
-Parasympathetic stimulation: slows heart, reduces force of ctx.
What does sympathetic stimulation do to coronary conduction system and coronary arteries during exercise?
Dilates coronary arteries
What is the relationship of the esophagus and aorta as they traverse the diaphragm?
Esophagus is anterior to aorta as they go through the diaphragm to abdominal cavity, esophagus ends superiorly (in stomach) and aorta keeps going.
At the level of the heart base in the inferior middle mediastinum, what is the general relationship of the Vagus and phrenic nerves?
-Vagus nerve runs slightly left of the median over the top of the aortic arch
-Right phrenic nerve runs laterally to superior vena cava (SVC)
-Left phrenic nerve runs laterally to the vagus nerve over the left side of the aortic arch and over the LPA
Describe the fibrous pericardium
-It’s the exterior layer that blends with central tendon.
-Its exterior surface is the epicardium (aka outer layer of myocardium)
-Appears gray