Chest Anatomy and Positioning

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to chest anatomy and positioning, including body types, parts of the respiratory system, and conditions affecting the lungs.

Hypersthenic

A body type characterized by a stocky build and a broad chest.

Sthenic

A body type considered average and proportionate in overall structure.

Asthenic

A body type that is slender and narrow.

Hyposthenic

A body type that falls in between sthenic and asthenic.

Mediastinum

The central compartment of the thoracic cavity, located between the lungs.

Trachea

The windpipe through which air passes to and from the lungs.

Bronchiole

A small airway branch of the bronchus that leads directly to the alveoli.

Apex

The tip or highest point of the lung.

Diaphragm

The muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity and aids in breathing.

Pneumonia

An infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, which may fill with fluid.

Carina

The ridge at the base of the trachea where it splits into the right and left bronchi.

Alveolus

A small air sac in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Pleura

The thin, double-layered membrane surrounding the lungs.

Costophrenic angle

The angle formed by the diaphragm and the ribs.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

A chronic condition in which the heart does not pump blood as well as it should.

Pulmonary edema

Fluid accumulation in the lung tissues and alveoli.

Lobar pneumonia

A type of pneumonia that affects one or more lobes of the lungs.

Inferior aperture

The lower opening of the thoracic cavity.

Superior lobe

The upper portion of the lung.

Oblique fissure

The fissure that separates the lobes of the lung.

Heart silhouette

The outline of the heart as seen on a chest X-ray.