Thorax 1 - Thoracic skeleton and intercostal space

Question 1

What is the thorax composed of?

Answer 1

ribs, intercostal space, costal cartilage, sternum, thoracic vertebrae

Question 2

What are the functions of the thoracic organs?

Answer 2

1. Protect internal organs
2. Actively involved in respiration
3. Attachments

Question 3

What are the 3 bones of the sternum called?

Answer 3

Manubrium, body and xiphoid process

Question 4

How many ribs do we have and how are they attached to the sternum? (what cartilage)

Answer 4

12 ribs and they are attached by costal cartilage

Question 5

How many vertebrae do we have? What letter do we use to refer to each?

Answer 5

33, T

Question 6

What types of joints are in the abdomen?

Answer 6

All 3 of them, fibrous, cartilaginous and synovial

Question 7

Describe the ribs and the names of each. Which ribs are which type?

Answer 7

12 ribs, 1-7 are true ribs. 8-10 are false ribs and 11-12 are floating ribs.

Question 8

Which ribs are typical ribs? What number ribs are they?

Answer 8

Ribs 3-9. They are ribs with a head, neck and body. The head has 2 facets for articulation with vertebrae. It articulates with its vertebrae and the one above. The ribs has a curved body and a costal groove on the interior side.

Question 9

Which ribs are atypical? Describe their structure

Answer 9

Ribs 1,2,10,11,12
The first rib is broad and sharply curved. It contains only a single facet for articulation with T1. It has 2 grooves on superior surface.

The second rib has two facets for articulation with T1 and T2. It contains rough areas for muscle attachment.

Ribs 10,11,12 have 1 facet.
Ribs 11 and 12 are short, no neck or tubercle.

Question 10

What are the 7 types of joints of the thorax?

Answer 10

1. Manubriosternal - articulation between the upper two parts of the sternum (manubrium and sternal body. It is at the level of the angle of Louis, at the 2nd coastal cartilage and T4&T5..
2. Xiphisternal - attachment of the body and the xiphiod process
3. Sternocostal - a synovial joint where the true ribs touch the sternum.
4. Costochondral - cartilaginous joints where ribs make a joint with costal cartilage.
5. Interchondral - synovial joint between the costal cartilages of the ribs
6. Costovertebral - joints connecting the ribs to the vertebral column. This connects on the head of the ribs to the bodies of the vertebrae.
7. Costotransverse -Formed between the tubercle of the rib and the transverse process of the thoracic vertebra.

Question 11

Name features of the vertebrae that we need to know

Answer 11

Superior and inferior articular process
Intervertebral foramen
Intervertebral disc
Transverse process 
Vertebral body

Question 12

What is present between the inner and innermost intercostal muscle?

Answer 12

A fascial plane because the two muscles run in different directions

Question 13

Where do the VAN (vein,artery,nerve) run?

Answer 13

Just below each rib

Question 14

Where do the neurovascular structures run?

Answer 14

T1-T11

Question 15

What are intercostal arteries branches of?

Answer 15

Branches of the aorta. There are anterior and posterior intercostal arteries.

Question 16

Where do all the veins of the abdomen (right and left superior intercostal vein, posterior intercostal vein, subcostal veins) drain to?

Answer 16

The Vena Cava