HP 3003 Human Gross Anatomy

Fall 2001

Lecture 2 - Thorax

I. Trunk
    Thoracic cavity
    Abdominopelvic cavity
    Divided by the diaphragm

Two diaphragms exist in the trunk:
    1) between the abdominal cavity and thoracic cavity
    2) low in the pelvic region, between the perineum and the pelvic  cavity-pelvic diaphragm

II. Thoracic wall:
    a. Bones (Ribs, Sternum , vertebrae)
    b. In addition to the bones there are a large number of joints between these bones. The joints are critical for respiratory movements.
    c. Muscles
    d. Nerves
    e. Blood vessels

III. Skeleton
        a. forms an osteocartilaginous thoracic cage that protects the heart and lungs, and some abdominal organs such as the liver and spleen.
        b. 12 thoracic vertebrae and the intervertebral discs
            will study more with the back
                1.costal facets on their bodies for articulation with the heads of ribs
                2. costal facets on their transverse processes for articulation with the    tubercles of the ribs , except inferior two or three
                3. long spinous processes
        c. ribs - 12 pairs
                    1. first 7 ribs (sometimes 8) are true ribs (vertebrosternal) ribs - attach vertebrae to sternum by their costal cartilages.
                            a.first ribs attach to the manubrium of sternum under theclavicle
                            b. very strong
                            c. synchondrosis - not synovial joint
            2. 8-10 are called false (vertebrochondral) ribbs because their cartilage attaches to the cartilage of the rib superior to it.
            3. 11 -12th are free or floating ribs - their cartilages end in the posterior abdominal musculature
            4. costal cartilages contribute to the elasticity of the thoracic wall - cart. of 7 -10 form infrasternal angle and costal margin
            5. spaces between ribs are the intercostal spaces, and are filled by muscles, nerves and blood vessels.
            6. Typical rib:
                        a. head with two articular facets ( same # vert. & one superior)
                            facets separated by a crest - attaches to intervertebral disc by intra-articular ligament - 3 point articulation : T of same #, T above, and
                            disc. #1 only T1, # 11 only T11; # 12 only T12
  
                         b. neck
                            c. tubercle - at junction of neck & shaft (body), has facet that articulates with the transverse process of rib, and rough area for attachment of costotransverse ligament.
                            d. shaft - thin, flat, curved. Angle is the point of greatest change in curvature.
                7. Atypical ribs- 1, 2, 10-12
                        1st is broadest, shortest and most sharply curved
                            forms a synchondrosis with sternum, not synovial jt.
                         body of ribs with cartilage of ribs forms costochondral jt.   
                            chondrosternal jt. - between cart. of 2- 6 & sternum is a
                            synovial jt.
                            8-10 interchondral jt. - connected to each other by cart.
                8. Sternum
                        a. forms the middle of the thoracic cage
                        b. 3 parts: manubrium, body, xiphoid process
                        c. manubrium- quadralateral - means "handle"
                                1. articulates with the 1st & 2nd ribs
                                2. sup. border - jugular or suprasternal notch
                                3. clavicular notch - articulation with clavicles
                                4. manubriosternal joint - manubrium & sternum lie in different planes - form sternal angle or angle of Louis - important clinical landmark.- 2nd cost. cart.
                                5. Body - originally 4 separate segements or sternebrae
                                6. Xiphoid process - in young is cartilage, mostly ossified by age of 40

IV.Thoracic apertures
        A. Superior Thoracic aperture - thoracic inlet
                1. transverse diameter> A-P diameter in adults
                2. almost circular in neonates
                3. boundaries - T1, 1st pair of ribs & cart., sup. border of manubrium
                4. Find trachea, esophagus and apex of lungs
                5. blood vessels to upper limb come through the inlet between clavicle & 1st rib-  subclavian v & a are the most important

    B. Inferior Thoracic Aperture - Thoracic outlet
            1. communication with the abdomen - covered by the diaphragm
                    a. structures that pass through - inf. vena cava, esophagus
                    b. structures that pass behind - aorta
             2. boundaries - T12, 12th ribs, costal cart. of ribs 7-12, xiphisternal jt.

V. Movements of Thorax
        A. changes in A-P , vertical and transverse diameters of thorax
                1. Inspiration increases intrathoracic volume and decreases pressure
                2. Expiration is usually a passive process of relaxation of muscles
                3. Diaphragm contracts to increase vertical diameter.
                4. transverse diameter is increased by action of external intercostals - raise ribs like bucket handles.
                        a. accessory muscles of insp. are pect. major and scalenes.
                5. Pump handle motion caused by contraction of external intercostals increases  A-P diameter.

VI. Muscles - concentrating only on those that affect the thorax- 11 muscles each:
        Intercostal muscles - 3 layers
        A. superficial - external intercostal muscles
                1. muscle fibers run sup. lat. to inf. medial
                2. end ant. at costal cartilages - replaced by external intercostal membranes- fills space like a tendon or aponeurosis
        B. middle - internal intercostals
                1. muscle fibers run sup. med to inf. lateral
                 2. replaced post. by internal intercostal membrane
        C. deepest - innermost intercostals - fibers run like internal intercostals

Diaphragm
            A. both voluntary and involuntary muscle fibers
            B. innervated by the phrenic nerve (C3, C4, C5)
            C. 3 orifices:
                        inferior vena cava (T8) (within central tendon)
                        esophageal orifice (T10) (hiatus hernia)
                        thoracic aorta (T12)

VII. Nerves

       A 12 pairs of thoracic spinal nerves pass through the intervertebral foramina and divide into ventral and dorsal primary rami
    1. ventral rami of T1-T11 form the intercostal nerves
    2. dorsal rami supply the muscle, bones, joints and skin of the back.

        B. superior             Vein
                                      Artery
            inferior                Nerve

    C. Dermatomes and myotomes

VIII. Vasculature
    Arterial supply:
            subclavian artery
            axillary artery
            aorta through the posterior intercostal and subcostal arteries
    Veins accompany arteries
            post. intercostal vv anastamose with the anterior intercostal vein, and most end in the azygos vein that enters the superior vena cava.

Thoracic Cavity
  
I. Pleurae - Each lung surrounded by a pleural sac
        a. two serous membranes:
                parietal pleura
                visceral pleura - attaches to lung - inseparable
        b. pleural cavity - potential space between membranes - serous pleural fluid
        c. Parietal pleura
                    costal , mediastinal, diaphragmatic, cervical pleura or cupula of pleura(extends 3 cm into neck)
                    at lung pedicle, the visceral and parietal pleura are continuous
                    posteriorly, double layer of parietal pleura called pulmonary ligament
        d. Hilum or hilus - where the pedicle attaches to the lung
        e. pleural tap - midaxillary line at rib 10 ( posterior risk hitting kidney)

II. Lungs
        a. apex
        b. base
        c. root
        d. hilum - main bronchus, pulmonary vessels, bronchial vessels, lymph vessels & nerves
         e. lobes - 3 right/ 2 left
        f. fissures
                1. oblique (from spinous process of T2 in the back to 6th costochondral junction)
                 2. horizontal (rt. lung, from oblique fissure to 4th costal cartilage)
        g. surfaces:
                1.costal surface
                2. mediastinal surface
                3. diphragmatic surface
        h. borders
                1. anterior - costal & mediastinal surfaces meet (on left cardiac notch)
                2. inferior - around the diaphragm
                3. posterior - costal & mediastinal surfaces meet
        i. Primary bronchi -first branching of the trachea - also c-shaped rings of cartilage
                    right main bronchus is wider and shorter and more vertical
                    left main bronchus - passes inferior to aortic arch and anterior to esophagus
                    carina- at bifurcation -strong cough reflex

        Secondary (lobar) bronchi - divide and pass to lobes of lungs - 3 rt -2 left
        Tertiary (segmental) bronchi- supply bronchopulmonary segments
        Bronchioles
        Alveoli

Vessels and nerves:
        a. each lung has a single large pulmonary artery - (98 %)branch of pulmonary trunk - deoxygenated blood - also divides into lobar and segmental arteries.
        b. bronchial arteries supply the lung tissue itself and visceral pleura (2%)- us. arise from aorta
        c. pulmonary veins - carry oxygenated blood to left atrium
        d. bronchial veins drain only part of blood from bronchial arteries, some drains into pulmonary veins. Rt. bronchial vein drains into the azygos vein, and left bronchial vein drains into accessory hemiazygos vein or left superior intercostal vein.

Nerves:
       1. from pulmonary plexes located anterior. and posterior to root of lungs
        2.Parasympathetic innervation from CN X - vagus - bronchonstrictor, vasodilator, and cause glands of bronchial tree to secrete.
       3. Sympathetic innervation comes from the paravertebral ganglia of the sympathetic trunks- effect is opposite to parasympathetic.

 Lung projection on the thoracic wall:

PTE(Pulmonary Thromboembolism):

A common cause of morbidity and mortality. An embolus is formed in far sites of the body such as legs(in the veins). This embolus is transferred to right atrium and eventually into pulmonary arteries. The outcome could be partial or complete obstruction of the blood flow to lung. In this condition the lung is ventilated but is not perfused (deprived from blood). Patient then undergoes acute respiratory distress and may die in a few minutes. This event usually happens when the embolus is very large.

Pleura and lungs:
The pleural cavity is a potential space, containing a small amount of fluid. This fluid facilitate the movement of the lungs.This cavity is formed between the parietal pleura and visceral layer of the pleura. The pressure in this cavity is below the atmospheric pressure. Pleurectomy is a surgical removal of the pleura. It has been reported that pleurectomy does have not serious functional effects.

Pneumothorax:
Since the pressure inside the trachea and other respiratory ducts is higher than the pressure in the pleural cavity, the lugs are normally expanded by this pressure difference. In traumatic situation when for various reasons the thoracic wall is peneterated by external objects air rushes into pleural cavity to equalize the pressure of both sides of the pleural. When the preesure of the pleural cavity increases the lung tissue collapses and respiration is jeopardised. Because the two pleural cavities are seperated by mediastinum, each of the two lungs can be collapsed independent from other side.
    It must be understood that pneumothorax is not always because of external sharp objects or open fracture in traumatic events. If lung tissue is ruptured following diseases of the lung , there again the air might enters the pleural cavity and pneumothorax occurs. The most common type of pneumothorax is spontaneous pneumothorax, when the alveoli in the lung are ruptured.

Sucking pneumothorax or "blowing wound":
Pleural cupulae are above the first rib in the root of the neck. Following stab wound in this region pleura and possibly the lung is injured. The result is entering the air into the pleural cavity called open pneumothorax.

Possitive pressure pneumothorax:
In occasion when the lung tissue is as well as visceral pleurae are ruptured air can enterd the pleural cavity during inspiration ,but can not leave this space because of a flap closing the openning the amount of air within the pleural cavity is increased with each cycle. This is considered a medical emergency, because the increased pressure in the ruptured side will push the mediastinum toward the opposite side. This compresses the opposite lung and threatens the respiration.

Hydrothorax:
This is a similar condition to pneumothorax, except that fluid is accumulated in the pleural cavity instead of air. One of the reasons for hydrothorax is Pleuritis or pleurisy (inflammation of the pleura). In presence of pleurisy the surfaces of the pleura become rough and produce a special noise that can be heard with a stethoscope. This is known as pleural rub.

Hemothorax:
Accumulation of the blood in the pleural cavity is called hemothorax. This usually occurs following chest wounds, and simply means blood enters and accumulates in the cavity.

Chylothoarx:
A rare event that gives rise to enetring the lymph into the pleural cavity.

Mediastinum - central portion of the thoracic cavity
        a. from superior thoracic aperture to diaphragm, and from sternum to thoracic vertebrae
        b. divided into superior and inferior parts:

    superior - sup. thoracic aperture to plane passing through inferior border of T4 and sternal angle. Contains trachea, ascending aorta, phrenic n., vagus n., superior vena cava, and branches off aortic arch.
  
inferior - below above plane, and further divided into ant, middle and post. parts.
  
middle - contains heart and great vessels, and bifurcation of the trachea
    anterior - thymus (larger in children) and sternopericardial ligaments
  
posterior - esophagus
                    thoracic descending aorta
                    sympathetic trunks
                    azygos vein
                    hemiazygos vein & accessory hemiazygos vein
                    thoracic duct
                    beginning of intercostal vessels

Pericardium:
  
double walled fibroserous sac that encloses the heart
    fused with the tunica adventitia of the great vessels
    attached to post. sternum by sternopericardial ligaments
    attached to diaphragm by the central tendon
Layers:
    Outermost layer is fibrous pericardium - tough - protects against overfilling
    parietal pericardium
    visceral pericardium (epicardium)
Pericardial cavity

Heart :
    layers:
        epicardium
        myocardium
        endocardium - continuous with endothelium of vascular system
2 pumps in one:
        pulmonary circulation
        systemic circulation

Four chambers:
        Right atrium
                    right auricle - pouch that overlaps the ascending aorta
                    divided by vertical ridge of muscle called the crista terminalis
  
                 post. - openings of sup. and inf. vena cavae, and coronary sinus, and fossa ovalis in interatrial septum
                    ant. - rough wall with ridges - the pectinate muscles

        Right ventricle - separated from right atrium by rt. A/V valve - tricuspid valve
  
                 three papillary muscles attached to cusps by tendinous strands - chordae tendineae
  
                 muscular ridges crossing and anastomosing - trabeculae carnae
  
                 tapers sup. into cone shaped pouch called conus arteriosus or infundibulum
                    pulmonary (semilunar) valve located at apex of conus arteriosus -
                    3 cusps ant., rt, and lft.
            interventricular septum -
                        septomarginal trabecula, curved muscular band - contains right branch of the atrioventricular bundle of conduction system

Left atrium -
            left auricle - has pectinate muscles
            four pulmonary veins
            left atrioventricular orifice

Left ventricle -
            A/V valve is the mitral or bicuspid valve
            2 larger papillary muscles
            wall twice as thick as rt. vent.
            mesh of trabeculae carnae - finer and more numerous than in rt.
            aortic (semilunar) valve - three cusps, no chordae tendineae

Heart surface-
        divided by sulci containing cardiac vessels
        1. coronary sulcus- separation of atria and ventricles - contains right coronary artery, circumflex branch of left coronary artery, and coronary sinus.
        2. Interventricular sulcus -indicates separation of right and left ventricles
                a.anterior interventricular sulcus contains anterior interventricular branch of left coronary artery (left anterior descending artery) and great cardiac vein
                b. posterior interventricular sulcus contains posterior interventricular branch of right coronary artery and middle cardiac vein.

Conduction system:
    1. sinoatrial node - pacemaker
    2. atrioventricular node
    3. Atrioventricular bundle
                a. right branch - in septomarginal trabecula
                b. left branch

Vessels of the Thorax
    First branches off the aorta are the coronary arteries:
                arise just superior to the aortic valve
                supply the myocardium and the pericardium
    Right coronary artery-
            runs in the atrioventricular (coronary) groove
            usually gives off a sinuatrial nodal artery to SA node
            passes to inferior border of the heart and gives off right marginal art.
            turns to the left and continues in the post. arterioventricular groove
            gives off the post. interventricular artery (PDA)
            near the end gives off the atrioventricular nodal artery that supplies AV node

Left coronary artery -
            passes between the left auricle and pulmonary trunk to ant. artrioventricular groove.
            branches into the anterior interventricular artery (ADA) runs along interventricular septum to apex
            circumflex branch of LCA runs in atrioventricular groove, to posterior surface, gives off marginal branch along left margin of heart

Cardiac veins tend to parallel paths of coronary arteries, and drain into coronary sinus in post. atrioventricular groove.
        Drains into right atrium

Ascending Aorta
        Arch of Aorta
                ligamentum artriosum - remnant of ductus arteriosus - connects left pulmonary artery to inferior surface of the arch.
                Branches of the arch are:
                        brachiocephalic trunk
                            divides into the right common carotid and right subclavian arteries
                left common carotid artery - supplies the head
                left subclavian artery - supplies the left arm

    Thoracic aorta -begins at level of T4, as descends becomes more medial
                passes through the aortic hiatus at T12
                Branches:
                    Bronchial
                    Esophageal
                    Pericardial
                    Mediastinal
                    Posterior intercostal arteries
                            9 pairs - 3rd -11th intercostal spaces
                    Subcostal
                    Superior phrenic

Internal Thoracic (also called internal mammary a.
            runs parallel to lateral margin of sternum , is larger in women because supplies the breast tissue.
            gives off anterior intercostal aa.
            at the sixth ribs divides into two terminal branches:
                    musculophrenic a - goes around the diaphragm
                    superior epigastric a. - goes to abdominal region

Major Thoracic veins:
        2 brachiocephalic veins form the superior vena cava (only 1 brachiocephalic a.)   formed by union of jugular veins and subclavian veins
    Azygous vein - found only on right side - drains into atrium directly
    posterior intercostal veins empty into it, also some from hemiazygous
    Hemiazygous
            only on left side
            four lower posterior intercostal veins drain into this vein
            anastamoses with azygous v on right side
    Accessory hemiazygous vein
            8 posterior intercostal veins drain into this vein
            only found on left side, both accessory and hemiazygous veins cross midline and join azygous as it drains to right atrium
    Internal thoracic vein
            drains into the subclavian veins
            at 7th intercostal space the internal thoracic v. splits into
                        musculophrenic v.
                        superior epigastric v.