Thorax Flashcards
region of body between
neck and abdomen (aka the chest
thorax
The thorax contains the heart and the lungs
* Other major structures found in the
thorax include the ____ and
the aorta (through the thoracic
portion of descending aorta)
esophagus
Thoracic cavity and its walls have the
shape of a ___
truncated cone
T/F the walls of the thoracic cavity are thick
F; relatively thin
Thoracic cavity has a _____ superior opening (superior
thoracic aperture) and a ____ inferior
opening (inferior thoracic aperture)
Narrow. larger.
Narrow superior opening of the thorax
superior thoracic aperture
The muscular thoracic diaphragm
covers the ____,
creating a floor to the thoracic cavity
inferior thoracic aperture
Floor to the thorax
muscular thoracic diaphragm
Central compartment of the thorax
– houses the thoracic viscera except
for the lungs
mediastinum
Right and left pulmonary/pleural
cavities – house the ___
lungs
Functions of the thorax: protection of thoracic and ___ organs
abdominal
Functions of the thorax: Resistance against the ______ generated by the elastic recoil
of the lungs and inspiratory movements
negative internal pressures
negative internal pressures in thorax generated by the elastic recoil of the lungs and ___ movements
inspiratory
Attachment and supportive of the upper limbs
* Origin for groups of muscles of the upper limb, abdomen, back neck, and head
thorax
Functions of thorax: Muscles for breathing: ___ and diaphragm
intercostals
costal=
chondral=
osseous=
rib, cartilage, bone
Thoracic skeleton includes:
- 12 pairs of ribs and associated costal cartilages
- 12 thoracic vertebrae and the intervertebral (IV) discs
interposed between them - Sternum
Three types of ribs defined by how they articulate with
the sternum anteriorly:
true (1-7) false (8-10) floating (11-12)
ribs attaching directly to sternum through
their own costal cartilages
True Ribs (1-7)
attach to the cartilage of ribs
superior to them (indirect attachment)
False ribs (ribs 8-10) -
do not contact the sternum,
instead ending in the posterior abdominal musculature
- Floating ribs (ribs 11-12) –
- All ribs articulate posteriorly with ____
thoracic vertebrae
Atypical rib numbers
1, 2, 10, 12
The joining of the costal cartilages of
false ribs (8,9,10) form a
continuous, articulated, cartilaginous
____
costal margin