Vertebral Levels Flashcards
What does the mnemonic RAT PLANT stand for?
Vertebral level T4 (Thoracic plane aka plane of Ludwig) contents:
Rib 2
Aortic arch
Tracheal bifurcation (carina)
Pulmonary trunk
Ligamentum arteriosum
Azygous vein drains into superior vena cava (SVC)
Nerves
-> Loop of recurrent laryngeal nerves
-> Parasympathetic: contributes to the cardiopulmonary plexuses
-> Sympathetic: branches of the cardiopulmonary splanchnic nerves
Thoracic duct moves from right-to-left
What does CLAP TRAP stand for?
Vertebral level T4 (Thoracic plane aka plane of Ludwig) contents.
Cardiac plexus
Ligamentum arteriosum
Aortic arch (inner concavity)
Pulmonary trunk
Tracheal bifurcation (carina)
Right-to-left movement of the thoracic duct posterior to the oesophagus
Azygous vein drains into superior vena cava (SVC)
Pre-vertebral fascia and pre-tracheal fascia end
What’s at the C3 level?
Body of hyoid bone
What’s at the C4 level?
Bifurcation of common carotid artery
Superior border of thyroid cartilage
What’s at the C5 level?
Upper border of the thyroid gland
What’s at the C6 level?
Cricoid Cartilage
Trachea begins (end of larynx)
Oesophagus begins (end of pharynx)
Inferior thyroid artery crosses posterior to thyroid sheath
Middle cervical sympathetic ganglion behind inferior thyroid artery
Inferior laryngeal nerve enters the larynx
Vertebral artery enter the transverse foramen of C6
What’s at the C7 level?
Thoracic duct reaches its greatest height
Isthmus of thyroid gland
Vertebra prominens
Stellate ganglion
What’s at the T1 level?
Lower border of thyroid gland
Highest point of lung apex
What’s at the T2 level?
Sternoclavicular joint
Superior angle of scapula
Suprasternal notch / Jugular notch
What’s at the T3 level?
Medial end / Base of spine of scapula
End of oblique fissure of lung posteriorly
What’s at the T4 level?
Thoracic Plane / Plane of Ludwig
Sternal Angle of Louis
Division between superior and inferior mediastinum
RAT PLANT
CLAP TRAP
What’s at the T5 level?
Upper border of the heart
What’s at the T7 level?
Inferior angle of scapula
What’s at the T8 level?
Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) hiatus of diaphragm
Terminal branches of right phrenic nerve
What’s at the T9 level?
Xiphisternal junction
Lower border of heart
What’s at the T10 level?
Oesophageal hiatus of the diaphragm
Right and left vagus nerves
Oesophageal branches of left gastric artery/vein
Xiphoid process
What’s at the T12 level?
Aortic hiatus of the diaphragm: Aorta, Azygous Vein, Thoracic Duct
Upper border of the kidneys
What’s at the L1 level?
Transpyloric plane / Addison’s plane
Midpoint between jugular notch and pubic symphysis
Tip of 9th costal cartilage
Pylorus of stomach D1 part of the duodenum Duodeno-jejunal flexure Root of the transverse mesocolon Hepatic flexure of the colon Splenic flexure of the colon Fundus of the gallbladder Neck of the pancreas Hila of the kidneys (supine) -> left: above -> right : below Position of renal pelvis Renal arteries originate -> left: above -> right : below Celiac artery originates just above Hilum of the spleen Termination of the spinal cord and superior portion of the conus medullaris Origin of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) Splenic vein traverses behind pancreas and joins superior mesenteric vein (SMV) to form the portal vein Cisterna chyli Liver
What’s at the L2 level?
Renal veins
Thoracic duct begins
Azygos and hemiazygos veins begin
Ligament of Treitz (upper border)
What’s at the L3 level?
Subcostal plane
Through tenth costal cartilage
Inferior Mesenteric Artery branches of the abdominal aorta Lowest point of the costal margin Lowest border of the kidneys Umbilicus Spinal cord ends in infants
Umbilicus plane / Transumbilical plane
One of the most common sites for causes of chronic lower back pain
What’s at the L4 level?
Supracristal plane
Through the highest point of the iliac crest
Bifurcation of the abdominal aorta into left and right common iliac arteries
Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) begins
What’s at the L5 level?
Transtubercular plane
Passes through the iliac tubercles, small elevations found in the iliac crest of the iliac bone
Inferior vena cava formed (convergence of right and left common iliac veins)
Continuation of caecum as ascending colon
What’s at the S1 level?
Sacral promontory
What’s at the S2 level?
Posterior superior iliac spine
Sacral dimples
Dural sac terminates
Middle of sacroiliac joint
