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Flashcards in Thoracic Wall Deck (14)
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1
Q

Describe the branching of intercostal nerves:

A

Intercostal nerves are anterior rami of spinal nerves T1-T11

Lateral cutaneous branch (largest)

  • Splits into anterior and posterior branches
  • Ends as anterior cutaneous branch
  • Lateral cutaneous branch pierces thoracic wall –> anterior and posterior branches innervate skin
  • Collateral branches run along superior border of lower rib and supply: motor innervation to muscles of thoracic wall, somatic sensory innervation from skin and parietal pleura, postganglionic sympathetic fibres to periphery
2
Q

What are the parts of the axial skeleton?

A

skull, vertebrae, sacrum, hyoid bone, ribs and sternum

3
Q

What are the parts of the upper limb girdle

A

clavicles and scapulae (attach upper limbs to axial skeleton)

4
Q

What are the parts of the vertebral column, where do its nerves emerge and what is its direction of curvature

A

see notes

5
Q

What surface markings does the scapula provide

A
  • Superior angle: T2 spine
  • Spine: T3 spine
  • Medial border: palpable
  • Inferior angle: T7 spine
6
Q

How do thoracic vertebrae articulate with ribs?

A

transverse processes, which have facets for articulation with the tubercle of the associated ribs

  • TI: complete costal factors allows TI to only articular with its own rib
  • TII-TIX: have inferior and superior demifacets, with the superior demifacet articulating with the head of its own rib, and the inferior with that of the vertebrate below’s; transverse costal facets on transverse processes articulate with own rib
  • TX: articulates only with own rib using both costal facets on the transverse process and pedicle
  • TXI-TXII: articulate to own ribs only with costal facets on the pedicles
7
Q

What are the parts of vertebrae?

A
  1. Vertebral Body: weight-bearing and linked to superior/inferior vertebra by inter-vertebral discs and ligaments - size increases inferiorly as must bear more weight
  2. Vertebral Arch: forms the lateral and posterior region, with the vertebral foramen in the centre
  3. Vertebral Foramen: all the foramina combined form the vertebral canal to contain and protect the cord
  4. Pedicles: attach vertebral arch to body
  5. Laminae: flat sheets extending medially from the pedicles to meet in the midline to enclose the vertebral arch
  6. Spinous process: projects posteriorly and inferiorly from the junction of the laminae to allow for the attachment of muscles and ligaments (palpable CVII-TIV)
  7. Transverse processes: extend posterolaterally from the pedicle-lamina junctions on each side to allow articulation (joining) with the ribs in the thoracic region
  8. Superior/inferior processes: extend superiorly/inferiorly to interact with the inferior/superior processes of the adjacent vertebra respectively
  9. Superior/inferior vertebral notches: superior/inferior aspects of the pedicles, forming the intervertebral foramina where the mixed spinal nerves may emerge
8
Q

What is the structure of the rib?

A
  • Head: attaches to transverse processes of the thoracic vertebrae via articular facets
  • Costal Cartilage: joins to the sternal articular facets
  • Neck: posterior region of the rib
9
Q

Describe the bucket handle movement

A

when breathing in, ribs move superiorly and anteriorly in a handle-like movement, moving in the opposite direction during expiration

Diaphragm: flattens to increase lung volume on breathing in

10
Q

What does the internal thoracic artery bifurcate into?

A

form the musculophrenic and superior epigastric arteries just superior to the diaphragm

11
Q

What are the contents of the thoracic inlet?

A
○ great vessels heading for neck and upper limb (internal jugular vein, common carotid, subclavian artery, subclavian vein 
○ Oesophagus
○ Trachea
○ nerves 
○ lymphatics
12
Q

What type of joint do ribs form with vertebrae and costal cartilage

A

all synovial except R1 with manubrium is cartilagenous

13
Q

How do 2 vertebral bodies connect?

A

Connect via Inferior Articular Process + Superior articular process

Hyaline cartilage + Intervertebral disc in between

Joints between vertebral arches are zygapophysial joints

14
Q

What are intervertebral discs made of?

A
Anulus fibrosus (collagen – limits rotation)
Nucleus pulposus (gelatinous – absorbs compression forces)