Summary Gross anatomy study mnemonics thorax

Mnemonics: Thorax
Taken from http://www.medicalmnemonics.com

Posterior mediastinum: contents
DATES:
Descending aorta
Azygos and hemiazygous veins
Thoracic duct
Esophagus
Sympathetic trunk/ganglia



Aortic arch: major branch order
"Know your ABC'S":
Aortic arch gives rise to:
Brachiocephalic trunk
left Common Carotid
left Subclavian
· Beware though trick question of 'What is first branch of aorta?' Technically, it's the
coronary arteries.



Superior mediastinum: contents
PVT Left BATTLE:
Phrenic nerve
Vagus nerve
Thoracic duct
Left recurrent laryngeal nerve (not the right)
Brachiocephalic veins
Aortic arch (and its 3 branches)
Thymus
Trachea
Lymph nodes
Esophagus



Pleura surface markings
"All the even ribs, in order: 2,4,6,8,10,12 show its route":
Rib2: sharp angle inferiorly
Rib4: the left pleura does a lateral shift to accommodate heart
Rib6: both diverge laterally
Rib8: midclavicular line
Rib10: midaxillary line
Rib12: the back

, Bronchopulmonary segments of right lung
"A PALM Seed Makes Another Little Palm":
· In order from superior to inferior:
Apical
Posterior
Anterior
Lateral
Medial
Superior
Medial basal
Anterior basal
Lateral basal
Posterior basal




Thoracic duct: relation to azygous vein and esophagus
"The duck between 2 gooses":
Thoracic duct (duck) is between 2 gooses, azygous and esophagus.



Vertebrae: recognizing a thoracic from lumbar
Examine vertebral body shape:
Thoracic is heart-shaped body since your heart is in your thorax.
Lumbar is kidney-bean shaped since kidneys are in lumbar
area.




Thoracoacromial artery branches
"CAlifornia Police Department":
Clavicular
Acromial
Pectoral
Deltoid



Vagus nerve: path into thorax
"I Left my Aunt in Vegas":
Left Vagus nerve goes Anterior descending into the thorax.



Vagal nerve: path into thorax
Vagus nerve, unlike phrenic, continues through diaphragm with esophagus--it is "Not
Left Behind":
· The left vagus is anterior, right is posterior [behind].