Anatomy - Imagery of the Thorax

What is the superior extent of the pleural cavity?

About 1 inch above the clavicle/1st rib

What is the name of the peritoneal lined space between the body wall and the diaphragm?

Costodiaphragmatic recess

A PA chest X-ray should exhibit how many pairs of ribs?

At least 8 pairs

The anterior aspect of each rib is located where relative to the posterior aspect?

Below/inferior

In a normal chest X-ray what radiopaque structure can be seen in the substance of the lung?

Pulmonary vessels

What forms the majority of right heart border? Left heart border?

Right atrium (and SVC); Left ventricle (and pulmonary trunk & aorta)

What is the aortic knob?

Arch of the aorta on the left mediastinal border

What part of the heart lies most anterior in the thorax? Posterior?

Anterior: right ventricle; Posterior: left atrium and left ventricle

What structure normally makes an impression on the esophagus?

Aorta (superiorly)

On inspiration what is the position of the diaphragm?

Descends

Pneumonia of which lobe of the lung obscures the right heart border on PA view?

Right middle lobe

How would free air in the abdominal cavity show up on plain film X-ray?

Radiolucent (dark) region inferior to the diaphragm

How do you describe a PA chest X-ray of a person with severe emphysema?

Barrel shaped — long and rounded, low hemi-diaphragm domes

Fluid accumulating in the pleural space is referred to as what?

Pleural effusion

In contrast to pneumonia, how do large pleural effusions affect the organs of the thorax?

Pneumonia = fills lung space, little displacement; Effusion = pushes lungs/mediastinum to opposite side

On a pneumothorax the visceral pleura of the partially deflated lung is seen as what?

A thin white line

Name four reasons for mediastinal widening caused by disease states.

Pulmonary hypertension, lung cancer, aortic rupture, enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, cardiomegaly

Cardiomegaly due to mitral valve regurgitation is due mainly to enlargement of what?

Left atrium

Cardiomegaly due to aortic valve regurgitation is due mainly to enlargement of what?

Left ventricle

What view is best on aortagram to clearly visualize the three chief supra-aortic branches off the aortic arch?

Lateral view