Thoracic Body Wall I - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering thoracic wall anatomy, surface landmarks, dermatomes, osteology, and embryology concepts from Lecture 21.

Thorax

The part of the trunk between the neck and abdomen that supports the thoracic wall and houses the thoracic viscera. It is bounded by the rib cage and includes the lungs, heart, and major blood vessels.

Thoracic Cavity

Contains mediastinum and left and right pulmonary cavities.

Superior thoracic aperture

The opening at the top of the thoracic cage formed by T1, first ribs, and manubrium that transmits the trachea, esophagus, nerves, and major vessels.

Inferior thoracic aperture

The bottom opening of the thorax through which structures pass between thorax and abdomen as the diaphragm forms.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Crowding at the superior thoracic aperture that compromises the neurovascular supply to the upper limb.

Jugular notch

The indentation at the superior border of the manubrium, just above the sternoclavicular joints. At T2 vertebral level.

Sternal angle

The palpable angle where the manubrium meets the body of the sternum; marks the level of the second rib.

Epigastric fossa

The slight indentation over the inferior end of the sternum.

Subcostal (infrasternal) angle

The angle formed by the inferior edge of the rib cage at the epigastric fossa.

Midsternal line

A vertical surface landmark running along the midline of the sternum.

Midclavicular line

A vertical surface landmark passing through the midpoint of the clavicle, parallel to midsternal line

Anterior axillary line

A vertical line along the anterior border of the axilla, along the lateral margin of pectoralis major

Posterior axillary line

A vertical line along the posterior border of the axilla, along the lateral margin of the latissimus dorsi

Axillary fossa

The hollow beneath the shoulder joint (armpit)

Midaxillary line

A vertical line through the midpoint of the axilla.

T2 dermatome

Thoracic dermatome at the axillary level.

T4 dermatome

Thoracic dermatome at the nipple level.

T10 dermatome

Thoracic dermatome at the umbilicus level.

Rib head

Posterior end of a rib with superior and inferior articular facets; ribs 1, 11, and 12 have a single facet. (light green)

Rib tubercle

Projection where the rib articulates with the transverse process of the vertebra. Not on 11 and 12 (dark blue)

Rib angle

Point of greatest curvature of a rib. (red)

Costal groove

Groove along the inferior margin of a rib that houses intercostal vessels and nerve. (purple)

Costovertebral joints

Joints where rib heads articulate with the vertebral body of the same number and the body of the next superior vertebrae; tubercles articulate with transverse processes (except ribs 1, 11, 12- only articulate with vertebral body of same number).

Manubrium

Upper part of the sternum; articulates with the clavicle and first two costal cartilages; contains the jugular notch.

Body (sternum)

The central part of the sternum; articulates with the manubrium at the sternal angle and with ribs 2–7 via costal cartilages.

Xiphoid process

Inferior end; articulates with sternal body at xiphisternal joint, articulates with 7th costal cartilage.

Xiphisternal joint

The joint between the xiphoid process and the body of the sternum. at T9 level.

True ribs

Ribs 1–7 whose costal cartilages attach directly to the sternum.

False ribs

Ribs 8–10 whose costal cartilages attach to the cartilage of the rib above.

Floating ribs

Ribs 11–12 whose cartilages do not articulate with the sternum or other cartilages.

Septum transversum

Embryonic structure that contributes to the central tendon of the diaphragm and divides the pericardial and peritoneal cavities.

Pleuropericardial membranes

Membranes that grow from the lateral walls toward the lungs to isolate the pericardial and pleural cavities; remnants form the fibrous pericardium.

Pleuroperitoneal membranes

Membranes that surround the septum transversum and close off communications between pleural and peritoneal cavities.

Pericardial cavity

The space within the pericardium surrounding the heart.

Pleural cavities

The right and left serous cavities between the parietal and visceral pleura surrounding the lungs.

Peritoneal cavity

The serous cavity within the abdomen derived from the intraembryonic coelom.

Pericardioperitoneal canals

Channels between the developing pericardial and peritoneal cavities that contribute to separating the cavities.

Diaphragm (central tendon)

Musculotendinous partition separating thoracic and abdominal cavities; central tendon from septum transversum; muscular portions from C3–C5 myoblasts.

Dermatome- lateral cutaneous branch

emerges at midaxillary line and innervates most of dermatome

Dermatome- anterior cutaneous branch

emerges lateral to sternum and innervates most medial part of dermatome

ID all and name

Thoracic vertebrae- Costal facets on all, facets on transverse processes of T1-10;

Superior view:

light blue- transverse process

purple- costal facet

red- costal facet

Lateral view:

green- spinous process

purple- costal facet

dark blue- articular process