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1st Year Med > Thorax/Lung Anatomy > Flashcards

Thorax/Lung Anatomy Flashcards

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1
Q

what protects the contents of the thoracic cavity?

A

thoracic wall

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2
Q

what are the 3 main functions of the thorax?

A

respiration
protection
conduit (passageway)

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3
Q

what does the thoracic wall consist of?

A

sternum, T1-12 vertebrae, 12 rib pairs + costal cartilages, intercostal muscles (in intercostal spaces), supplying arteries/nerves

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4
Q

what are the 3 types of intercostal muscles?

A

external, internal, innermost

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5
Q

what is the function of the thoracic cage?

A

provides rigidity and flexibility

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6
Q

what are the 3 types of ribs and how do they differ?

A

true ribs - costal cartilage attaches directly to sternum (sternocostal joints)
false ribs - costal cartilage attaches to cartilage above (interchondral joints)
floating ribs - dont attach to sternum

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7
Q

where does the head of the rib articulate?

A

superior demi-facet of corresponding vertebra and inferior demi-facet of vertebra superior to it
(costovertebral joints)

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8
Q

where does the tubercle of the rib articulate?

A

transverse process of corresponding vertebra
(costotransverse joints)

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9
Q

what are the 4 atypical ribs in terms of articulation?

A

1, 10, 11, 12

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10
Q

what separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities?

A

diaphragm

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11
Q

what does the inferior thoracic aperture do?

A

provides attachment for the diaphragm

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12
Q

what does the superior thoracic aperture separate?

A

the thoracic cavity and the neck/upper limb

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13
Q

name the 3 attachments of the diaphragm

A

L1-3 vertebrae
inferior costal cartilages and adjacent ribs
xiphoid process

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14
Q

what nerve is the diaphragm supplied by?

A

phrenic nerve (contributions from C3-5)

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15
Q

what is the purpose of diaphragmatic apertures?

A

permit structures to pass between thorax and abdomen

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16
Q

name the 3 diaphragmatic apertures and what structures pass through

A

canal opening - IVC
esophageal hiatus - oesophagus
aortic hiatus - aorta

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17
Q

describe external intercostal muscles in terms of where they occupy, muscle fibre direction and when they’re most active

A

occupy intercostal spaces from posterior to costochondral junction
fibres run anteroinferiorly
most active during inspiration

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18
Q

describe internal intercostal muscles in terms of where they occupy, muscle fibre direction and when they’re most active

A

occupy intercostal spaces from anterior to angle of ribs
fibres run anteroposteriorly
most active during expiration

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19
Q

where does the intercostal neurovascular bundle lie?

A

between internal and innermost intercostals
(innermost = deep internal layer)

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20
Q

what happens when ribs are elevated?

A

anteroposterior and lateral dimentions of the thorax increase

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21
Q

what happens to the dimentions of the thoracic wall when the diaphragm is contracted?

A

superoinferior dimentions increase

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22
Q

what are the accessory muscles of respiration and how do they assist?

A

arm/pectoral girdle allow neck/arm muscles to assist rib elevation in forced breathing
abdominal muscles assist forced expiration

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23
Q

what forms the intercostal nerves?

A

anterior rami of T1-11 spinal nerves

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24
Q

what forms the subcostal nerve?

A

anterior ramus of T12 spinal nerve

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25
in what order are the major vessels found in the intercostal neurovascular bundle (from S -> I)
intercostal vein, intercostal artery, intercostal nerve VAN
26
what are the originations of the intercostal arteries?
posterior - aorta anterior - internal thoracic artery (branches) both IC arteries anastomose
27
what does the internal thoracic artery originate from and what does it bifurcate into?
originates from subclavian artery bifurcates into musculophrenic and superior epigastric arteries
28
what 2 blood vessels expand to maintain blood supply when there is a stricture of the proximal aorta?
internal thoracic and anterior IC arteries
29
what are the 3 compartments of the thoracic cavity?
pulmonary cavities (L and R) mediastinum
30
what 2 layers of pleura surround each lung?
parietal (superficial) visceral (deep)
31
what is the function of the serous fluid inbetween the serous membranes of the lung? (visceral/parietal pleura)
lubrication
32
what are pleural recesses?
potential spaces between costal and diaphragmatic pleura that the lungs can move into during inspiration
33
what is pectus excavatum?
chest wall indentation into thoracic space
34
what is pectus carinatum?
pigeon's chest - chest wall protrusion
35
name 3 abnormailities that can occur in the pleural cavity
(tension) pneumothorax hydrothorax/haemothorax mesothelioma
36
what does tension pneumothorax limit?
ventilation and venous return
37
where would you insert a tube/train to decompress a pneumothorax?
midclavicular line, 2/3rd intercostal space, closer to lower rib
38
what is a flail segment?
3 (or more) consecutive ribs broken in 2 places each
39
what deformities are seen in a flail segment during inhalation?
un-coordinated movement, poor inflation (poor gas exchange), pain, wrong direction of movement
40
what is administered when in rib pain?
nerve block - image guidance (ultrasound) used to inject local anaesthetic to reduce pain and encourage normal breathing
41
what is lung contusion?
bruised lung
42
what comprises the upper respiratory tract?
nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx
43
what comprises the lower respiratory tract?
trachea, primary bronchi, lungs
44
what are paranasal sinuses?
air filled cavities beside the nose
45
what are the differences between the left and right bronchus?
right is more vertical, greater diameter and shorter than left (foreign body more likely to go into right)
46
what are the 3 lobes of the lung?
superior (L/R) middle (R) inferior (L/R)
47
describe the structure of respiratory epithelium
pseudostratified, ciliated, columnar containing goblet cells for mucous secretion
48
what is surfactant and what does it do?
secreted by type 2 pneumocytes increases lung compliance and prevents lung collapse
49
name the structures of the lung from superior to inferior
apex hilum bronchus pulmonary artery pulmonary vein
50
name the borders/surfaces of the lung from medial to lateral
mediastinal surface inferior border base anterior border costal surface
51
what separates the lung lobes?
oblique fissure - separates superior/middle from inferior (L/R) horizontal fissure - separates inferior/middle from superior (R)
52
what does the pulmonary ligament do?
holds pulmonary arteries/veins in place
53
what is the function of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses in breathing?
filter/warm/humidify air and detect smells
54
what is the function of the pharynx in breathing?
conducts air to larynx (chamber shared with digestive tract)
55
what is the functions of the larynx in breathing?
protects opening to trachea contains vocal chords
56
what is the function of the trachea/bronchi in breathing?
filters air traps particles in mucous (cartilages keep airway open)
57
what is the general function of the lungs in breathing?
air movement through volume changes during rib/diaphragm movements (in airways and alveoli)
58
what is the function of the alveoli in breathing?
acts as gas exchange sites between air and blood
59
what is the respiratory unit?
basic physiological lung unit consisting of respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts and alveoli
60
what are the functions of type 1 and 2 epithelial cells in alveoli?
type 1 - gas exchange site type 2 - produce pulmonary surfactant to reduce surface tension
61
where are the apex and base of the lungs?
apex - above 1st rib and just above clavicle base - ribs 8-12 (sits on diaphragm)
62
what is the lingula?
protruding aspect of the superior left lung
63
what is the cardiac notch?
a left lung indentation superior to the lingula protrusion
64
what structures are found in the root of the lung?
bronchi pulmonary artery/vein nerves lymphatics
65
what is the hilum?
area of lung where each structure enters and leaves
66
what is the general arrangement of the hilum?
pulmonary artery superiorly pulmonary vein inferiorly bronchi posteriorly
67
explain the segmentation of the bronchi
primary bronchi branch into secondary (lobar) bronchi (L2, R3) secondary bronchi branch into tertiary bronchi (L8, R10)
68
what do tertiary bronchi supply?
the bronchiopulmonary segment
69
explain the pulmonary circulation of the lung
pulmonary artery enters through hilum segments into lobar then segmental arteries goes through capillaries moves into segmental then lobar veins enters pulmonary vein then heart
70
explain the course of the left vagus nerve
branches into left recurrent laryngeal nerve hooks around right subclavian artery before travelling to larynx
71
explain the course of the right vagus nerve
branches into right recurrent laryngeal nerve hooks around aortic arch before travelling to larynx
72
explain the function of the recurrent laryngeal nerves and the consequences of damage to these nerves
innervate aortic arch impairment to nerve, speech, breathing and coughing when damaged
73
how can a phrenic nerve injury be sustained?
medical harm - surgery, chiropractor trauma - blunt, penetrating central - spinal cord injury/compression
74
what are the 2 divisions of the respiratory system?
conducting - nasal cavities to terminal bronchioles respiratory - respiratory bronchioles to alveoli
75
what is the trachea supported by and what are the structures composed of?
10-12 C-shaped hyaline cartilages chondrocytes embedded in cartilage smooth muscle joins ends of C-shape cartilage posteriorly
76
what is the function of seromucous glands?
found in trachea lumen produce mucous secretions delivered to surface by ducts supports goblet cell function
77
what changes are observed when bronchi segment from primary to tertiary?
size decrease irregular cartilage plates on walls become smaller and fewer seromucous glands decrease
78
what are bronchioles composed of?
mostly smooth muscle larger broncioles lined with simple ciliated columnar epithelium with few goblet cells
79
what changes are observed in bronchiole structure as they decrease in size?
epithelium changes to simple cuboidal with few ciliated cells and more club cells
80
explain the branching of the terminal bronchioles
terminal bronchioles -> respiratory bronchioles (gas exchange begins here) -> alveolar ducts -> alveolar sacs -> 2-3 alveoli
81
explain the structure of type 1 pneumocytes
squamous with flat, dark, oval nuclei and very thin cytoplasm mostly found on alveolar surface
82
explain the structure and additional function of type 2 pneumocytes
cuboidal cells mainly in alveolar space progenitor cells that proliferate to replace pneumocytes after lung damage
83
what does the blood-air barrier contain?
type 1 pneumocytes capillary endothelial cells fused BM of these cells in the middle
84
what is found in the inferior mediastinum region?
anterior - fat, thymus middle - heart posterior - aorta, oesophagus
85
what is found in the superior mediastinum region?
upper - T1 posteriorly lower - sternal angle (rib 2 landmark)
86
what are the physical characteristics of arteries in alveoli?
thin walled highly compliant larger diameter lower resistance (than systemic)

1st Year Med (52 decks)

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