Imagery of the Thorax - Self Exam Questions

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 XRAY should exhibit how many pairs of ribs?

at least 8 pairs

The anterior aspect of each rib is located

below/inferior to the posterior aspect of the rib

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

Pulmonary vessels

What forms the majority of right heart border?

right atrium (and superior vena cava)

What forms the majority of left heart border

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?

right ventricle

What part of the heart lies on the most posterior parts of the heart

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?

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 xray?

as a radiolucent (dark) region inferior to the diaphragm

1How do you describe a PA chest xray of a person with severe emphysema?

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

Fluid accumulating in pleura space is referred to as

pleural effusion

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

pneumonias occupy the lung space with little or no displacement, effusions push the lungs and mediastinum to the opposite side - space occupying.

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

whiteline

Name four reasons for mediastinal widening that are caused by disease states.

pulmonary hypertension, lung cancer, aorta rupture, enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, cardiomegaly

Cardiomegaly due to mitral valve regurgitation is due mainly to enlargement of the

left atrium

Cardiomegaly due to aortic valve regurgitation is due mainly to the enlargement of the

left ventricle

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

lateral view