THORAX II Flashcards
What is the pleural cavity?
The potential space between the parietal and visceral pleural membranes
What is the pressure in the pleural cavity?
Sub-atmospheric (negative)
What keeps the pleural cavity moist?
Pleural fluid
What separates the 2 pleural cavities?
The mediastinum
Name the 4 aspects of the parietal pleura
The costal aspect, the diaphragmatic aspect, the mediastinal aspect and the cervical aspect
What hole does the apex of the lung protrude through?
The superior thoracic aperture
What is a tension pneumothorax?
An abnormal collection of air in the pleural space between the lung and chest wall. A one-way valve is created from damaged tissue and the amount of air in the pleural space increases
Where is the visceral pleura continuous with the mediastinum?
At the root of the lung
What’s the function of the pulmonary ligament?
To connect the lung medially to the mediastinum
What’s the pulmonary ligament made of?
A fold of the pleural membrane
What’s the function of the pulmonary ligament?
Hold the lower part of the lung in place
What are the 2 pleural recesses present during normal respiration?
The costo-diaphragmatic recess
The cost-mediastinal recess
What is pleurisy?
Inflammation of the pleurae, which impairs the lubricating function and causes pain upon inspiration
What is pleural effusion?
The accumulation of excess fluid in the pleural space, which can impair the expansion of the lungs and therefore breathing
Name the 4 surfaces of the lungs
The costal surface
The diaphragmatic surface
The vertebral surface
The cardiac surface
What is the fissure present in both lungs?
The oblique fissure
What is the fissure present only in the right lung?
The horizontal fissure
What lung has a cardiac notch?
The left lung
Which lung has a lingula on its anterior aspect?
The left lung
In which surface of the lung are the superior vena cava impression and the arch of the azygous vein impression found in the right lung?
The cardiac surface
What are the impressions in the cardiac surface of the left lung?
The arch of the aorta, the left common carotid and the left subclavian artery
Why are bronchial lymph nodes often black?
Pollution discolours the nodes due to carbon deposits
What plane separates the superior mediastinum from the inferior mediastinum?
The trans-thoracic plane
What are the 3 subdivisions of the inferior mediastinum?
The anterior, middle and posterior spaces
Where is the thymus gland?
In the anterior superior mediastinum
What’s the function of the thymus gland before birth and throughout childhood?
Production and maturation of T lymphocytes for the immune system
What are the boundaries of the superior mediastinum?
The manubrium, T1 and the first ribs
What are the inferior boundaries of the superior mediastinum?
The transverse thoracic plane (T4//5)
What does the right phrenic nerve run lateral to?
The right brachiocephalic vein and superior vena cava
What important feature does the right phrenic nerve run anterior to?
The lung root
What does the left phrenic nerve descend along the left side of?
The left subclavian artery
What does the left phrenic nerve cross superficially as it approaches the aortic arch?
The vagus nerve
What does the left phrenic nerve cross anterior to?
The root of the lung
Where would you find the transverse pericardial sinus?
Between the left and right parts of the pericardial space proper, posterior to the aorta and pulmonary trunk but anterior to the vena cava
What’s the practical implication of the transverse pericardial sinus?
It can be used in cardiac surgery, as surgeons can install a surgical clamp or place a ligature around the vessels to stop or divert blood flow temporarily to then perform surgery
Where is the oblique pericardial sinus?
A ‘J-shaped’ space posterior to the left atrium and between the left and right pulmonary veins, which opens into the pericardial space proper inferiorly
Where are pectinate muscles found?
Musculi pectinati are parallel ridges found in the inner walls of the atria
How long is the ascending aorta?
About 2 inches long
What are the 3 aortic sinuses?
The left coronary sinus
The right coronary sinus
The non-coronary sinus
What sinus gives rise to the right coronary artery?
The right coronary sinus = The anterior aortic sinus
What sinus gives rise to the left coronary artery?
The left coronary sinus= left posterior aortic sinus
What sinus gives rise to no coronary arteries?
The non-coronary aortic sinus = the right posterior aortic sinus
At what level does the pulmonary trunk bifurcate?
T5/T6
What’s the crista terminalis?
A generally smooth-surfaced, thick portion of heart muscle in a crescent shape at the opening into the right atrial appendage
What is fossa ovalis?
A depression in the wall of the right atrium at the level of the interatrial septum; a remnant of a thin fibrous sheet that covered the foramen ovale during foetal development
What is the coronary sinus?
A collection of veins that drain blood from myocardium tissue into the right atrium
What and where is the infundibulum of the heart?
The infundibulum is a conical pouch formed from the upper and left angle of the right ventricle in the chordate heart
What is the moderator band?
A muscular band of heart tissue found in the right ventricle, which is part of the heart’s conduction system
What are the positions of the 3 semilunar cusps of the pulmonary valve?
Left, right and anterior
What are the positions of the 3 semilunar cusps of the aortic valve?
Left, right and posterior
When can a patient be diagnosed with cardiomegaly?
If the heart appears larger than 50% of the thorax on a PA film
Where does the great cardiac vein run?
From the apex of the heart, along the anterior longitudinal sulcus to the base of the ventricles, before curving round the left margin of the heart and merging with the oblique vein of the left atrium to form the coronary sinus
Where does the middle cardiac vein run?
From the apex of the heart, through the posterior longitudinal sulcus into the coronary sinus
Where does the small cardiac vein run?
In the coronary sulcus between the right atrium and ventricle to open into the right extremity of the coronary sinus
