Thoracic Cavity

Question 1

What major organs and tissues are contained within the thoracic cavity?

Answer 1

Heart
Lungs
Major blood vessels
Part of the trachea
Oesophagus

Question 2

What is the thoracic wall comprised of?

Answer 2

Sternum
Thoracic vertebrae
Twelve pairs of ribs and costal cartilages
Intercostal muscles

Question 3

What are the three parts of the sternum?

Answer 3

Manubrium
Body
Xiphoid process

Question 4

At what age does the xiphoid process ossify?

Answer 4

40 years

Question 5

Which ribs are the true ribs?

Answer 5

1-7

Question 6

Which ribs are the false ribs?

Answer 6

8-10

Question 7

Which ribs are the floating ribs?

Answer 7

11 and 12

Question 8

What is the direction of fibres of the three intercostal muscles?

Answer 8

External intercostals run anteriorly and inferiorly and medially
Internal intercostals run anteriorly and laterally
Innermost intercostals have the same fibre direction as the internal intercostals

Question 9

Where do the arteries, veins and nerves which supply the intercostal muscles exist?

Answer 9

Immediately inferior to the rib between the internal and innermost intercostal muscle layer

Question 10

Which nerves supply the intercostal muscles?

Answer 10

The anterior rami of T1-11 spinal nerves form the intercostal nerves and the anterior rami of the T12 spinal nerve forms the subcostal nerve

Question 11

What is the origin of the posterior intercostal artery?

Answer 11

Aorta

Question 12

What is the origin of the anterior intercostal artery?

Answer 12

Internal thoracic artery

Question 13

Which veins drain the anterior and posterior intercostal Arteries?

Answer 13

The azygous vein drains the posterior intercostal artery

The internal thoracic vein drains the anterior intercostal artery

Question 14

Which rib surrounds the superior thoracic aperture?

Answer 14

Rib 1

Question 15

Which muscle separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities?

Answer 15

Diaphragm

Question 16

What nerve innervates the diaphragm?

Answer 16

Phrenic nerve

Question 17

Where do the three apertures of the diaphragm exist and what structures travel through these apertures?

Answer 17

Inferior vena cava passes through diaphrgam at level of T8
Oesophagus travels through the diaphragm at the level of T10
Aorta pierces the diaphragm at the level of T12

Question 18

From which artery does the internal thoracic artery originate?

Answer 18

Subclavian artery

Question 19

What arteries does the internal thoracic artery bifurcate into?

Answer 19

Musculophrenic artery and superior epigastric artery

Question 20

What is pectus excavatum?

Answer 20

A pectus deformity where the chest is hollowed in the centre

Question 21

What is pectus carnium?

Answer 21

A pectus deformity where the chest sticks outwards

Question 22

How can pectus deformities be treated?

Answer 22

With a Nuss bar

Question 23

The sternal angle is a useful surface landmark which corresponds to the level of which costal cartilage?

Answer 23

Second

Question 24

Between which two points is the transverse thoracic plane drawn?

Answer 24

Sternal angle and T4 vertebrae

Question 25

The transverse thoracic plane indicates the boundary between the superior and inferior mediastinum and passes through which structures?

Answer 25

Carina
Superior limit of pericardium
Start and end of aortic arch
Superior vena cava

Question 26

What parts of the vertebrae does the head of the typical rib articulate with?

Answer 26

The superior demi facet if the corresponding vertebra and the inferior demi facet of the vertebra superior to it

Question 27

What part of the rib articulates with the transverse process of the corresponding vertebra?

Answer 27

The tubercle

Question 28

How does the first rib differ in its articulations with the vertebrae?

Answer 28

It only articulates with T1

Question 29

How do the tenth to twelfth ribs differ in its articulations with the vertebrae?

Answer 29

They only articulate with their corresponding vertebrae

Question 30

How do the eleventh and twelfth ribs differ in its articulations with the vertebrae?

Answer 30

They only articulate with their corresponding vertebrae and they do not articulate with the transverse processes

Question 31

The intraarticular ligament in the crest on the head of the rib attaches to which structure to hold the articulation steady?

Answer 31

Intervertebral disc

Question 32

What structures does the diaphragm attach to?

Answer 32

L1-3
Inferior 6 costal cartilages and adjacent ribs
Xiphoid process

Question 33

How far does the diaphragm move in quiet breathing as opposed to forced breathing?

Answer 33

Quiet 1-2cm

Forced 6-10cm

Question 34

What is paradoxical breathing?

Answer 34

It is when the ribs move inwards during inspiration. And outwards during expiration which greatly reduces the ability of the thoracic cavity to expand during inspiration

Question 35

Where does the azygous vein originate and where does it drain to?

Answer 35

It originates from the IVC and drains into the SVC

Question 36

What is a hiatus hernia?

Answer 36

A protrusion of the stomach through the oesophageal hiatus

Question 37

How is a congenital diaphragmatic hernia distinct from a hiatus hernia?

Answer 37

A congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a congenital malformation of the diaphragm and differs from a hiatus hernia where the stomach is pushed through an already existing opening

Question 38

Where in the thorax does the sympathetic chain exist?

Answer 38

The posterior thoracic wall, lateral to the vertebral bodies

Question 39

Where dies the thoracic duct originate?

Answer 39

In The abdomen as the cisterna chyli

Question 40

In which aperture of the diaphragm does the cisterna chylii traverse to become the thoracic duct?

Answer 40

Aortic aperture

Question 41

Where does the thoracic duct drain?

Answer 41

The venous angle of the left subclavian and internal jugular veins