The Thoracic Cavity Flashcards
Walls are formed by the intercostal muscles, bones (ribs and thoracic vertebrae) and ligaments, caudally by the diaphragm
Thoracic Cavity
Oval opening into the cranial part of the thoracic cavity
Thoracic inlet
The thoracic cavity contains the (4)
lungs
heart
thymus gland
lymph nodes
Structures that pass through the thoracic cavity include the
aorta, cranial vena cava, caudal vena cava, azygos and hemiazygos veins, thoracic duct, lymph vessels, esophagus, vagal, phrenic and sympathetic nerves
each of a pair of serous membranes lining the thorax and enveloping the lungs in humans and other mammals.
Pleura
serous membranes which cover the lungs, line the walls of the thoracic cavity, cover the structures in the mediastinum or in some places form the mediastinum
Pleura
Only exists as a real cavity when there is accumulation of gas and fluid
Pleural Cavity
forms the walls of the pleural cavity
Parietal pleura
tightly attached to the lung surfaces; visceral portion of the pleura
Pulmonary pleura
Paired structured organs responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Lungs
*Lung differences
IN ADULT
Color: _____
Size: _____
Texture: _____
Floats in water: Y or N
bright pink
larger
soft and spongy
yes
*Lung differences
IN YOUNG
Color: _____
Size: _____
Texture: _____
Floats in water: Y or N
pale gray
smaller
firm to touch
no
space between the R and L pleural sacs which envelopes the thymus, heart, aorta, trachea, esophagus, vagus nerves and other nerves and vessels
Mediastinum
from Medieval Latin mediastinus, “_______”
“midway”
3 divisions of Mediastinum
- Cranial mediastinum
- Medial mediastinum
- Caudal mediastinum
