Anatomy of the Thorax: Pleura & Mediastinum, Pericardium & Trachea, and Lungs

cavity housing lungs and heart

Thoracic cavity

1.) muscles

2.) bones

3.) ligaments

The walls of the thoracic cavity are formed by (3):

pleural

The thoracic cavity is bound to the _________ membrane

endothoracic fascia

What binds the thoracic cavity to the pleural membrane?

areolar tissue that attaches the costal and diaphragmatic pleurae to the underlying muscles, ligaments, and bones of the thoracic wall

endothoracic fascia

two pleural sacs, thoracic viscera, blood vessels, nerves, lymph nodes, and lymphatics

Thoracic cavity contains (6):

serous membrane that lines the wall of the thoracic cavity and covers the lungs

Pleura

a potential space between the parietal and visceral pleura, contains a small amount of fluid

Pleural cavity

pleura that immediately surrounds the thoracic wall

Parietal pleura

1.) costal pleura

2.) mediastinal pleura

3.) diaphragmatic pleura

The parietal pleura is divided into three parts:

pleura that lines the ribs

costal pleura

pleura that lines the mediastinum

mediastinal pleura

pleura that lines the diaphragm

diaphragmatic pleura

pleura that immediately surrounds the lungs

Visceral pleura

space between the left and right pleural sacs, occupied by most of the thoracic organs

Mediastinum

the lungs and sympathetic trunk

The mediastinum contains most thoracic organs except...

spaces where regions of parietal pleura are directly applied to each other

Pleural recesses

because the pleural sac is more extensive/larger than the space the lungs occupy

Why does the pleural recess take place?

enclose the lungs

Pleural sacs

1.) costodiaphragmatic recess

2.) costomediastinal recess

Two pleural recesses:

where the costal and diaphragmatic pleura meet

costodiaphragmatic recess

where the costal and mediastinal pleura meet

costomediastinal recess

needle insertion into the costodiaphragmatic recess; at the 6th, 7th, or 8th intercostal space ventral to the costochondral junction

Thoracocentesis

cranial extend of the parietal pleura in the pleural cavity extending through the thoracic inlet

Cupula pleurae (pleural cupula)

pneumothorax

The cupula pleurae can be mistakenly opened during caudal neck surgery/neck injury and cause...

air in the plerual cavity

pneumothorax

space between the left and right pleural sacs/lungs

Mediastinum

1.) cranial mediastinum

2.) middle mediastinum

3.) caudal mediastinum

The mediastinum is divided into three parts by the heart:

space between the lungs that is cranial to the heart

cranial mediastinum

occupied by the heart

middle mediastinum

space between the lungs that is caudal to the heart

caudal mediastinum

1.) dorsal mediastinum

2.) ventral mediastinum

The mediastinum is further divided into two parts by the roots of the lungs:

where the lungs end and bifurcate into the primary bronchi

root of the lungs

space dorsal to the root of the lungs

dorsal mediastinum

space ventral to the root of the lungs

ventral mediastinum

parietal pleura

1

visceral pleura

2

pleural cavity

3

mediastinum

1

costal pleura

What type of pleura is 1?

mediastinal pleura

What type of pleura is 2?

diaphragmatic pleura

What type of pleura is 3?

costal pleura

What type of pleura is 1?

mediastinal pleura

What type of pleura is 2?

diaphragmatic pleura

What type of pleura is 3?

costodiaphragmatic recess

Which pleural recess is 1?

costomediastinal recess

Which pleural recess is 2?

cranial mediastinum

Which section of mediastinum is 1?

middle mediastinum

Which section of mediastinum is 2?

caudal mediastinum

Which section of mediastinum is 3?

cranial mediastinum

Which section of mediastinum is 1?

middle mediastinum

Which section of mediastinum is 2?

caudal mediastinum

Which section of mediastinum is 3?

the fibroserous envelope of the heart

Pericardium

1.) fibrous pericardium

2.) serous pericardium

The pericardium has two layers

outer layer that adheres tightly to the pericardial mediastinal pleura

fibrous pericardium

1.) phrenicopericardial ligament

2.) sternopericardiac ligament

The fibrous pericardium contains two ligaments

connects the fibrous pericardium to the diaphragm

phrenicopericardial ligament

connects the fibrous pericardium to the sternum

sternopericardiac ligament

inner layer that

serous pericardium

1.) parietal serous pericardium

2.) visceral serous pericardium

The serous pericardium is further divided into two layers:

adheres to the fibrous pericardium

parietal serous pericardium

adheres to the heart

visceral serous pericardium

space between the parietal and visceral serous pericardium

Pericardial cavity

-pericardial mediastinal pleura

-fibrous pericardium

-parietal serous pericardium

------pericardial cavity----------

-visceral serous pericardium

Layers surrounding the heart from outside to inside

excess fluid in the pericardial cavity; most are not harmful, but they sometimes can make the heart work poorly

Pericardial effusion

surgical removal of a portion or all of the pericardium

Pericardiectomy

inflammation of the pericardium

Pericarditis

pericardial mediastinal pleura

1

fibrous pericardium

2

sternopericardiac ligament

3

parietal serous pericardium

4

pericardial cavity

5

visceral serous pericardium

6

upper; lower

The respiratory system is divided into _______ and ________ respiratory tracts

the nares and the lungs

upper respiratory tract includes structures between....

1.) nasal cavity

2.) pharynx

3.) larynx

4.) trachea

Four structures of the upper respiratory tract:

to conduct air to and from the lungs

Main function of upper respiratory system

1.) modification of inspired air

2.) thermoregulation

3.) defense against harmful substances

4.) olfaction

Four other functions of the upper respiratory system:

the lungs

Lower respiratory tract

gas exchange of oxygen from the atmosphere and carbon dioxide from the blood

Function of the lower respiratory tract

1.) respiratory bronchioles

2.) alveolar ducts

3.) alveoli

Where does gas exchange take place (3)?

cervical and thoracic parts

The trachea is divided into two parts:

starts from cricoid cartilage to the thoracic inlet

Cervical part of trachea

goes from thoracic inlet to the bronchi

Thoracic part of trachea

where the trachea bifurcates into a left and right primary bronchi

Tracheal bifurcation

at T4 to T5

Where does the tracheal bifurcation take place?

crest into the bifurcation of the trachea

tracheal carina

right; ventral

The trachea enters the thoracic cavity to the _________ of the esophagus, then turns ________ to the esophagus

base

The trachea ends at the _______ of the heart

1.) tracheal cartilage

2.) tracheal muscle

3.) annular ligaments of the trachea

Three components of the trachea:

hyaline cartilage

What is tracheal cartilage made of?

makes up 35 incomplete tracheal rings

Tracheal cartilage function

smooth muscle

What are the tracheal muscles made of?

connects the tracheal cartilage dorsally

Tracheal muscles function

fibroelastic tissue

What are the annular ligaments of the trachea made of?

connects consecutive tracheal rings

Function of the annular ligaments of the trachea

narrowing of tracheal lumen as a result of flattening tracheal cartilages, a redundant dorsal tracheal membrane, or both

Tracheal collapse

involves creating an opening in the neck in order to place a tube into the windpipe; tube is inserted through a cut in the neck below the vocal cords to allow air to enter the lungs

Tracheostomy

technique for collecting airway samples

Tracheal wash