Thorax I (Anatomy of the Thorax, Lungs, & Mediastinum) Flashcards
What is the Thoracic Cage composed of?
- 12 thoracic vertebrae
- 10 ribs and costal cartilages
- Sternum
What are the functions of the Thoracic Cage?
- Protects vital organs of thoracic cavity
- Supports pectoral girdle and upper limbs
- Provides attachment sites for muscles
- Resist negative internal pressures generated by the recoil of the lungs
What is the Sternum composed of?
Three fused bones that lie in anterior midline of thorax
A. Manubrium
B. Body
C. Xiphoid process
D. Sternal angle
What does the Manubrium (of the Sternum) articulate with?
Articulates with clavicles and costal cartilages of ribs 1 and 2
What does the Body of the Sternum articulate with?
Articulates with costal cartilages of ribs 2-7
What is the Sternal angle?
- Manubrium meets body
- Vertebral level of T4/5
- Important anatomical landmark
What is apart of the Thoracic Vertebrae?
A. Heart-shaped vertebral body
B. Long spinous process
C. Costal facet of transverse process
D. Superior costal demifacet
E. Inferior costal demifacet
How many rib pairs are there and where do they attach?
12 pairs, all attach posteriorly to thoracic vertebrae
What are the 3 different types of ribs?
- True ribs
- False ribs
- Floating ribs
& Intercoastal space
What are the True ribs?
1-7
* Attach anteriorly to sternum via their costal cartilages
What are the False ribs?
8-10
* Costal cartilages fuse together and join the costal cartilage of rib 7
(don’t have own attachment to sternum)
What are the Floating ribs?
11, 12
* Do not attach to the
sternum
What is the Intercostal space?
space between adjacent ribs
What does a Typical Rib (3-9) include?
- Head
- Neck
- Tubercle
- Costal groove
- Body
- Attachment to costal cartilage
- Costovertebral joint
- Costotransverse joint
What part of a Typical Rib (3-9) articulates with demifacets of vertebral bodies?
head
What part of a Typical Rib (3-9) articulates with transverse process of vertebra?
Tubercle
What are the 2 types of the Thoracic Apertures?
- Superior thoracic aperture (thoracic outlet)
- Inferior thoracic aperture
What is included in the Superior Thoracic Aperture (thoracic outlet)?
- Esophagus
- Trachea
- Vessels and nerves of head and neck
- Vessels of upper limbs
- Apex of lung
What is included in the Inferior Thoracic Aperture?
- Closed off by diaphragm
- Esophagus
- Inferior vena cava
- Aorta
What are the Intercostal Muscles?
- Thin sheets of muscles that connect adjacent ribs
- Close off intercostal spaces
What is the Intercostal Muscles innervation?
intercostal nerves
What is the order of superficial to deep?
- External intercostal muscles
- Internal intercostal muscles
- Innermost intercostals
What are the External Intercostal Muscles?
- Superficial layer, more lateral
- Muscle fibers travel infero-medially
“HANDS IN POCKETS” - ELEVATE ribs during FORCED INSPIRATION
What are the Internal Intercostal Muscles?
- Intermediate layer, more medial
- Muscle fibers travel supero-medially
“HANDS ON CHEST” - DEPRESS ribs during FORCED EXPIRATION
What are the Innermost Intercostal Muscles?
- Deep to internal intercostal muscles
- Muscle fibers travel supero- medially (same as internal)
- Depress ribs during forced expiration
- Neurovascular bundles run between internal and innermost intercostal muscles
What is the Transversus thoracis?
- Group of 4-5 thin muscles on the inner surface of the anterior thoracic wall
- Run from sternum/xyphoid process to ribs
- Weakly depress ribs
(apart of the Innermost Intercostal Muscles)
What is the Diaphragm?
Primary muscle of inspiration
Where does the Diaphragm originate & insert?
Originates from xiphoid process, lumber vertebrae and inferior margin of rib cage
Inserts onto central tendon
Form right and left domes
When diaphragm contracts, domes depress, increases the height of thoracic cavity
What is the Diaphragms innervation?
phrenic nerves
What structures do the openings of the Diaphragm allow structures to pass through?
- CAVAL OPENING for inferior vena cava
- ESOPHAGEAL HIATUS for esophagus
- AORTIC HIATUS for aorta