Thorax (Exam#2) Flashcards
Give the vertebral level of the jugular/suprasternal notch
Lower border of T2
Give the vertebral and costal levels of the sternal angle (of Louis)
Between T4-T5 posteriorly, and 2nd costal cartilage (CC) anteriorly.
Give the vertebral level of the xiphisternal joint
T9
Give the costal levels of the costal margin (lower border of chest/thorax)
7th-10th costal cartilages
Give the intercostal space (ICS) level and vertebral level of the nipple
4th ICS, T4-T5
Give the costal level of the apex of the heart
Left 5th ICS, 1/2 inch medial to the midclavicular line.
The transverse thoracic plane lies between which two vertebral levels?
T4-T5
p.78 Moore
Which rib(s) attach ENTIRELY to the manubrium?
1st rib only; the 2nd rib attaches at the sternal angle and, thus, attaches to both the manubrium and the body of the sternum.
At which joint is the angle of Louis formed?
Manubriosternal joint
At which vertebral levels is the body of the sternum located?
T5-T9
p.78 Moore
At what vertebral level is the xiphoid process located?
Its inferior end lies at T10
What three thoracic viscera can the xiphoid process be a midline marker for, i.e. what three organs can be found at the midline using the xiphoid process as a landmark?
- Xiphoid process ≈ T10 vertebral level*
1. ) Superior limit of the liver
2. ) Central tendon of the diaphragm
3. ) Inferior border of the heart
p. 78 Moore
What bony landmark indicates the inferior limit of the central part of the thoracic cavity projected onto the anterior body wall?
Xiphisternal joint: Junction between the body of the sternum and the xiphoid process.
- ) What bony landmark can be used to locate the infrasternal angle (aka _______ angle)?
- ) What forms the infrasternal angle?
- ) aka Subcostal angle –Xiphisternal joint.
2. ) Formed by the apex of the right and left costal margins.
Give the borders of the thoracic cage (superior, inferior, lateral, anterior, posterior).
Superior: Thoracic inlet and suprapleural membrane. Inferior: *Thoracic diaphragm* Lateral: 12 ribs and their cartilage. Anterior: Sternum. Posterior: 12 thoracic vertebrae.
What are the borders of the superior thoracic aperture (anterior, posterior, lateral)?
Anterior: Superior border of manubrium
Posterior: T1
Laterally: 1st pair of ribs and their cartilage.
What structures pass through the superior thoracic aperture (10)?
- Trachea
- Esophagus
- Phrenic nerves
- brachial plexus (lower trunk)
- internal thoracic artery
- brachiocephalic artery
- subclavian artery and vein
- thoracic duct,
- Anterior scalenes
- T1 and C8 anterior rami
What are the borders of the inferior thoracic aperture (anterior, anterolateral, posterior, posterolateral)?
- Anterior: Xiphisternal joint.
- Anterolateral: Joined costal cartilages of ribs 7-10 (costal margins).
- Posterior: T12.
- Posterolateral: 11th and 12th pair of ribs.
p. 79 Moore
The domes of the diaphragm rise to the level of which intercostal space?
4th ICS
p.79 Moore
Describe the articulation between the head of the ribs and the costal facets of the thoracic vertebrae, give an example.
The head of the rib articulates with the superior costal facet of the corresponding (same numbered) vertebrae (i.e. inferior articular facet of the head of the rib articulates with the superior costal facet of the vertebrae at the same level).
The superior articular facet of the head of the rib articulates with the inferior articular facet of the vertebrae superior to it (i.e. one number lower).
e.g. The head of the 6th rib articulates with the superior costal facet of T6, and the inferior costal facet of T5.
Describe the articulation between the tubercle of the ribs and the thoracic vertebrae, give an example.
The tubercle of the ribs articulate with the transverse costal facet of the corresponding (same numbered) vertebrae.
e.g. The tubercle of the 6th rib articulates with the transverse costal facet of T6.
Describe the relative length of the ribs in order of increasing number.
Length increases from 1 to 7, then decreases.
Explain the borders of the superior mediastinum.
The superior mediastinum extends inferiorly from the superior thoracic aperture to the horizontal plane that includes the sternal angle anteriorly and passes approximately through the junction (IV disc) of T4 and T5 vertebrae posteriorly, often referred to as the transverse thoracic plane.
Moore p.128
What are the contents of the middle mediastinum (5)?
The middle mediastinum includes the
1.) pericardium, heart, and the roots of its great vessels (Fig. 1.34)—
2.) ascending aorta,
3.) pulmonary trunk
4.) SVC (PVs)—passing to and from the heart –
5.) Phrenic nerve
Moore p.128
The fibrous pericardium is continuous with what tendinous structure?
The central tendon of the diaphragm (Fig. 1.32).
What are the contents of the superior mediastinum from anterior to posterior (6)?
Contents of Superior Mediastinum (anterior to posterior)
1.) Thymus
2.) Veins: Brachiocephalic veins and
SVC – ANTERIOR TO THE ARTERIES.
3.) Arteries: Arch of aorta and roots of its major branches—the brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid artery, and left subclavian artery – and related nerves (vagus and phrenic nerves and the cardiac plexus of nerves).
4.) Trachea anteriorly
5.) Esophagus posteriorly) and related nerves (left recurrent laryngeal nerve).
6.) Thoracic duct and lymphatic trunks.
Summarize systemically, the order of the major structures in the superior mediastinum, from anterior to posterior (6)
MNEMONIC
(1) thymus, (2) veins, (3) arteries, (4) airway, (5) alimentary tract, and (6) lymphatic trunks.
MNEMONIC: Tight Vag’s ARe Actually ALways Loose
Give the boundaries of the anterior mediastinum: Front, lateral, posterior, anterior.
- Front by the sternum.
- Laterally by the pleurae.
- Posteriorly by the pericardium.
- Anteriorly by the left Transversus thoracis and the fifth, sixth, and seventh left costal cartilages.
Give the contents (5) of the anterior mediastinum
- A quantity of loose areolar tissue.
- Some lymphatic vessels which ascend from the convex surface of the liver.
- Two or three anterior mediastinal lymph nodes.
- The small mediastinal branches of the internal mammary artery.
- Thymus (involuted in adults).
Concerning the posterior mediastinum, list all of the structures that it lies immediately above, below, anterior, posterior, and between.
Located inferior to the transverse thoracic plane.
• Anterior to the T5-T12 vertebrae.
• Posterior to the pericardium and diaphragm.
• Between the parietal pleura of the two lungs.
• Above the thoracic surface of the diaphragm.
What are the contents of the posterior mediastinum? MNEMONIC
*DATES* Descending aorta Azygos vein and hemiazygos vein Thoracic duct Esophagus Splanchnics
What does the thoracic duct drain?
All lymph except that from the right superior quadrant.
p.169 Moore
The ______ of the thorax increases considerably when the intercostal muscles contract.
AP dimension
p.83 Moore
- ) The pump-handle movement increases the _____ dimension of the thoracic cage.
- ) The bucket-handle movement increases the _____ dimension of the thoracic cage.
- ) Combined, these movements cause the thoracic cage to move in which directions?
- ) AP dimension
- ) Transverse dimension
- ) Anteriorly, superiorly, and laterally.
Which ribs articulate with the body of the sternum?
2-7
What two structures are located posterior to the manubrium?
- ) Arch of aorta (and its branches)
- ) Left brachiocephalic vein
p. 167 Moore
What seven anatomical features are associated with the sternal angle?
- ) T4-T5 disc
- ) 2nd rib articulation
- ) Ascending aorta ends***
- ) Descending aorta begins***
- ) Arch of aorta ends and begins
- ) Trachea bifurcates***
- ) Azygous vein joins SVC**
* Highest point of arch of aorta IS NOT at this point!
Give the vertebral levels of the following openings in the diaphragm and what travels with the structures:
- ) Vena cava (2)
- ) Esophageal (3)
- ) Aortic (3)
1.) T8: Inferior vena cava, branches of R phrenic nerve.
2.) T10: Esophagus, vagus nerve, esophageal branch of left gastric artery.
3.) T12: Aorta, thoracic duct, Azygos vein.
Mnemonic: “8-10-12” CEA: Caval, esophageal, aortic.
Give the innervation (and nerve roots) of the diaphragm (2 – central and peripheral)
- ) Phrenic nerve (C3, 4, 5): Motor to entire muscle, sensory to the CENTRAL part.
- ) Lower Five Intercostals and Subcostals: Sensory to the PERIPHERAL part.
What crosses the internal thoracic arteries near their origins?
ipsilateral phrenic nerves
p.167 Moore
Where and into what (what do they divide into) do the internal thoracic arteries terminate?
Terminate in the 6th intercostal spaces and divide into the superior epigastric (medially) and musculophrenic (laterally) arteries.
p.95 Moore
The 7th – 9th anterior intercostal arteries derive from the ____________.
musculophrenic artery
The anterior intercostal arteries are absent from the _________, which are supplied by the posterior intercostals and their collateral branches.
inferior two ICSs
Posterior intercostals veins ____–______ end in the azygos/hemi-azygos venous system, which conveys blood to the _______.
5–11
- superior vena cava
p. 96 Moore
The _______________ is typically the final tributary of the azygos vein, before it enters the SVC.
right superior intercostal vein
p.96 Moore
The _______ and _______ veins drain directly into the brachiocephalic veins.
right and left 1st posterior intercostal veins
Give the arterial supply for the breast (4)
Internal thoracic
Lateral thoracic
Thoracoacromial
Posterior intercostal arteries
Give the venous supply for the breast (3)
- ) Axillary vein (mainly)
- ) Internal thoracic (some)
- ) Posterior intercostal vein
* Communicates with the vertebral venous plexus*
p. 99 Moore
Most lymph (>75%), especially from the ______ breast quadrants, drains into the ______ lymph nodes, initially to the ______ or ______ lymph nodes.
- lateral
- axillary lymph nodes, initially to the anterior or pectoral lymph nodes.
p. 99 Moore
Lymph from the medial breast quadrants mainly drains to the ______ lymph nodes or to ________.
parasternal lymph nodes or to the opposite breast
Lymph from the inferior quadrants may pass deeply to _______ lymph nodes (_________ lymph nodes).
abdominal lymph nodes (subdiaphragmatic inferior phrenic lymph nodes).