Thorax + Osteology

Question 1

What is the thorax?

Answer 1

Region between the neck and abdomen

Superior portion of the trunk

Question 2

What are the two thoracic apertures?

Answer 2

Superior and inferior thoracic apertures

Question 3

Describe the superior thoracic aperture (thoracic inlet)

Answer 3

Communication between the neck and thorax
Contents include the trachea, esophagus, plus the nerves and vessels that supply and drain the head, neck and upper extremities

Question 4

What are the boundaries of the superior thoracic aperture?

Answer 4

T1 vertebral segment, paired 1st ribs and superior manubrium

Question 5

Describe the inferior thoracic aperture (thoracic outlet)

Answer 5

Irregular communication between the thorax and abdomen

Contents include the esophagus, IFC and aorta

Question 6

What are the boundaries of the inferior thoracic aperture?

Answer 6

T12 vertebral segment, 11th and 12th ribs, 7th through 10th costal cartilages and the xiphisternal joint

Question 7

The thoracic cavity is surrounded by an osteocartilaginous thoracic cage and contains three primary divisions including?

Answer 7

Two pulmonary cavities located laterally which contain the lungs and pleura
The mediastinum located centrally containing the heart, thoracic great vessels, trachea, thoracic esophagus and thymus

Question 8

Describe the manubrium

Answer 8

Suprasternal notch (superior border) 
Sternal angle (of Louis) (junction of manubrium and body) 
Clavicular notch (articulates with sternal end of clavicle)
Costal notches (1st and half of the 2nd)

Question 9

Describe the body of the sternum

Answer 9

Xiphoid/sternal joint (junction of body and xiphoid process) 
Costal notches (half of the 2nd, 3rd-6th and half of 7th)
Transverse ridges (anterior surface between costal notches)

Question 10

What is present on the xiphoid process?

Answer 10

Costal notch (half of 7th)

Question 11

What are the three types of ribs?

Answer 11

True (vertebrocostal) ribs
False (vertebrochondral) ribs
Floating (vertebral) ribs

Question 12

What are true (vertebrocostal) ribs?

Answer 12

1st-7th

Attach directly from vertebral segments to the sternum via their own costal cartilage

Question 13

What are false (vertebrochondral) ribs?

Answer 13

8th-10th

Attach from vertebral segments to join the costal cartilage immediately superior to that segment

Question 14

What are the floating (vertebral) ribs?

Answer 14

11th and 12th

Do not attach to the sternum at all

Question 15

What are the features of a typical rib?

Answer 15

Ribs 3-9
Contain a head (superior and inferior articular facet + crest of the head), neck, tubercle and body (costal groove and angle)

Question 16

What does the superior articular facet articulate with?

Answer 16

Inferior costal demifacet on thoracic vertebra body on numeric segment superiorly

Question 17

What does the inferior articular facet articulate with?

Answer 17

Superior costal demifacet on thoracic vertebral body of the same numeric segment

Question 18

What houses the intercostal N and vessels?

Answer 18

Costal groove on a typical ribs body

Question 19

Which ribs are atypical?

Answer 19

1st, 2nd, 10-12th

Question 20

Describe the first rib

Answer 20

Head possesses only a single facet
Scalene tubercle (insertion point for anterior scalene M)
Groove for the subclavian A (posterior) and V (anterior)

Question 21

Describe the second rib

Answer 21

Contains the tuberosity of serratus anterior M which is the insertion point for the serratus anterior

Question 22

Describe the 10th rib

Answer 22

Head possesses only a single facet

Question 23

Describe the 11th and 12th ribs

Answer 23

Head possesses only a single facet

Tubercle and neck not present

Question 24

Describe rib fractures

Answer 24

Most commonly fractured are the middle ribs at their weakest point just anterior to the costal angle
Can damage internal organs and produce severe pain with respiration, coughing, laughing and sneezing

Question 25

What are supernumerary ribs?

Answer 25

Extra ribs either in the cervical region or lumbar region

Question 26

Describe cervical ribs

Answer 26

Typically produce no sx however can produce neural and circulatory problems based on their proximity to the brachial plexus and subclavian A

Question 27

Describe lumbar ribs

Answer 27

Also often produce no sx however can result in confusion when reading radiographs and other diagnostic images