Thorax 1

Question 1

Surface anatomy of the thoracic wall

Question 2

Dermatitis

Answer 2

The region of skin innervated by the somatic sensory nerve axons associated with a single spinal ganglion at a single spinal cord level is called a dermatome.

Question 3

Dermatomes numbering

Answer 3

Cervical C1-C7
Thoracic T1-T12
Lumbar L1-L5
Sacral S1-S5

Question 4

What is the Thorax?

Answer 4

The thorax is part of the body between the neck and the abdomen.

Shape of the truncated cone, narrowest superiorly and the circumference increasing inferiorly

Question 5

Thoracic Cavity

Answer 5

Contains the primary organs of the
respiratory and cardiovascular systems

Divided into the mediastinum (midline structure that separates the right and left pleural cavities), the right
and left pulmonary cavities (the pleural cavities contain the lungs), midline structure that separates the right and left pleural cavities.

Question 6

Are breast located on the thoracic wall?

Answer 6

Yes

Whilst breasts are related to the
reproductive system, they are located on
the thoracic wall

Question 7

Skeleton of thoracic wall

Answer 7

Includes 12 pairs of ribs and associated costal
cartilages articulate with the sternum.

• 12 thoracic vertebrae and the intervertebral
discs

• Sternum

• The ribs and costal cartilage are identified
numerically, from the most superior (1 st rib) to
the most inferior (12th rib)

Question 8

Ribs

Answer 8

First 7 ribs articulate directly with the
sternum through their costal cartilages (true
ribs)

• 8th-10th ribs unite anteriorly via their costal
cartilages and articulate indirectly with the
sternum via the 7 th rib (false ribs)

• 11th and 12th ribs are floating ribs as they do
not attach to the sternum