Gross Anatomy - Thoracic Wall and Pleurae Exam With
complete solution–Expert Verified | Latest Questions 2025
What is the anterior boundary of the thorax? - Sternum and associated costal cartilages
What is the posterior boundary of the thorax? - Vertebral column
What is the superior boundary of the thorax? - Suprapleural membrane of thoracic inlet
What is the inferior boundary of the thorax? - Thoracic diaphragm
What is the lateral boundary of the thorax? - Ribs and their intercostal spaces
What are the functions of the thorax? - Protection
Respiration
Attachment of mm.
What is the superior thoracic aperture clinically referred to as? - Thoracic outlet
What is the inferior thoracic aperture closed by? - Thoracic diaphragm
What is the sternum? - Forms middle part of thoracic wall
Protects mediastinal viscera
What is the manubrium? - Widest and thickest part of sternum
Contains clavicular notch and suprasternal (jugular) notch (T2 level)
What is the manubriosternal joint? - At sternal angle b/w manubrium and sternal body
2nd rib articulates lateral to this joint
What does the body of the sternum articulate with? - Articulates with 2-7 costal
cartilages
What is the xiphoid process? - Indicates inferior limit of central thoracic cavity
Midline marker for upper limit of liver and inferior border of heart
At what spinal level is the xiphisternal joint? - T8-T9
What is the subcostal angle? - Inferior end of sternum between sternal attachment of
7th costal cartilage
What is the sternal angle? - AKA angle of Louie
Angle between manubrium and sternal body
At level of T4-T5 and 2nd costal cartilage
Creates the transverse thoracic plane
, What are the landmarks associated with the sternal angle and the transverse thoracic
plane? - Start/end of aortic arch
Bifurcation of pulmonary trunk
Location of ligamentum arteriosum and L recurrent laryngeal n.
Carina
Transverse pericardial sinus
Arch of azygos v. entry to SVC
All ribs attach posteriorly to ____________ ______________. - Thoracic vertebrae
What are the types of ribs? - True ribs (1-7)
False ribs (8-10)
Floating ribs (11-12)
What are true ribs? - Attach directly to sternum via costal cartilage
Allows for mobility of thoracic wall
Ribs 1-7
What are false ribs? - Attach indirectly to sternum via cartilages of rib above
Ribs 8-10
What are floating ribs? - Have no sternal connection
End in posterior abdominal musculature
Ribs 11-12
What is the numbering of the intercostal spaces base on? - Associated with the rib
forming the superior border
What lies in intercostal space? - Muscular layers and intercostal v.a.n.
What is the cause and result of rib fractures? - Direct violence may fracture rib at any
location
-compression fractures typically occur just ant. to costal angle
Results:
-broken ribs may damage underlying viscera
-Painful during respiration, coughing, sneezing
Do rib fractures typically need to be splinted in order to heal? - No, typically not
What is the term for large segment of chest wall moving paradoxically with 3 or more
ribs broken in 2 places called? - Flail chest
What is flail chest? - Large segment of chest wall moves paradoxically
When 3 or more ribs break with 2 breaks per rib
complete solution–Expert Verified | Latest Questions 2025
What is the anterior boundary of the thorax? - Sternum and associated costal cartilages
What is the posterior boundary of the thorax? - Vertebral column
What is the superior boundary of the thorax? - Suprapleural membrane of thoracic inlet
What is the inferior boundary of the thorax? - Thoracic diaphragm
What is the lateral boundary of the thorax? - Ribs and their intercostal spaces
What are the functions of the thorax? - Protection
Respiration
Attachment of mm.
What is the superior thoracic aperture clinically referred to as? - Thoracic outlet
What is the inferior thoracic aperture closed by? - Thoracic diaphragm
What is the sternum? - Forms middle part of thoracic wall
Protects mediastinal viscera
What is the manubrium? - Widest and thickest part of sternum
Contains clavicular notch and suprasternal (jugular) notch (T2 level)
What is the manubriosternal joint? - At sternal angle b/w manubrium and sternal body
2nd rib articulates lateral to this joint
What does the body of the sternum articulate with? - Articulates with 2-7 costal
cartilages
What is the xiphoid process? - Indicates inferior limit of central thoracic cavity
Midline marker for upper limit of liver and inferior border of heart
At what spinal level is the xiphisternal joint? - T8-T9
What is the subcostal angle? - Inferior end of sternum between sternal attachment of
7th costal cartilage
What is the sternal angle? - AKA angle of Louie
Angle between manubrium and sternal body
At level of T4-T5 and 2nd costal cartilage
Creates the transverse thoracic plane
, What are the landmarks associated with the sternal angle and the transverse thoracic
plane? - Start/end of aortic arch
Bifurcation of pulmonary trunk
Location of ligamentum arteriosum and L recurrent laryngeal n.
Carina
Transverse pericardial sinus
Arch of azygos v. entry to SVC
All ribs attach posteriorly to ____________ ______________. - Thoracic vertebrae
What are the types of ribs? - True ribs (1-7)
False ribs (8-10)
Floating ribs (11-12)
What are true ribs? - Attach directly to sternum via costal cartilage
Allows for mobility of thoracic wall
Ribs 1-7
What are false ribs? - Attach indirectly to sternum via cartilages of rib above
Ribs 8-10
What are floating ribs? - Have no sternal connection
End in posterior abdominal musculature
Ribs 11-12
What is the numbering of the intercostal spaces base on? - Associated with the rib
forming the superior border
What lies in intercostal space? - Muscular layers and intercostal v.a.n.
What is the cause and result of rib fractures? - Direct violence may fracture rib at any
location
-compression fractures typically occur just ant. to costal angle
Results:
-broken ribs may damage underlying viscera
-Painful during respiration, coughing, sneezing
Do rib fractures typically need to be splinted in order to heal? - No, typically not
What is the term for large segment of chest wall moving paradoxically with 3 or more
ribs broken in 2 places called? - Flail chest
What is flail chest? - Large segment of chest wall moves paradoxically
When 3 or more ribs break with 2 breaks per rib
