HUMAN ANATOMY

6.0 THORAX
Body Cavities
Thoracic Cavity
 = Chest cavity
 Formed by:
 Ribs
 Muscles of the chest
 Sternum (breastbone)
 Vertebral column
(thoracic portion)
Thoracic Cavity
 Pericardial cavity
 Fluid-filled space that surround the
heart
 Pleural cavity
 Two fluid-filled spaces that that

surround each lung

 Mediastinum:
 Central part of the thoracic cavity

 Between lungs

 Extending from the sternum to the

vertebral column
 First rib to the diaphragm

 Diaphragm

 Separates the thoracic cavity

from the abdominopelvic cavity
6.1 Thoracic cage
 Thoracic cage is formed by the:
 Sternum (“Breastbone”)
 Ribs (True:1-7; False: 8-12)

 Costal cartilages (Elasticity of the thoracic cage)

 Thoracic vertebrae

 Functions:
 Enclose and protect the organs

in the thoracic and abdominal cavities

 Provide support for the bones of the upper limbs
 Play a role in breathing
6.2 Diaphragm
6.3 Pleural Cavity & Mediastinum
6.4 Lungs (Bronchi)
 Carina (internal ridge)  triggering cough reflex
 As cartilage decreases, smooth muscle increases
 Sympathetic ANS – relaxation/dilation
 Parasympathetic ANS – contraction/constriction
 Anatomy of Lungs
 Lobes  each lung divides by 1 or 2
fissures

 Lobules wrapped in elastic

connective tissue and contains:
 lymphaticvessel
 arteriole
 venule
 branch from terminal bronchiole

 Terminal bronchioles branch into 

respiratory bronchioles  alveolar
ducts
Lungs
 Separated by the heart and other structures in the mediastinum
 Each lung enclosed by double-layered pleural membrane
 Parietal pleura  lines wall of thoracic cavity

 Visceral pleura  covers lungs themselves

 Pleural cavity is space between layers:

 Pleural fluid reduces friction, produces surface tension

 Cardiac notch  heart makes left lung 10% smaller than right
Lungs (Alveoli)
 2 types of alveolar epithelial cells:
 Type I alveolar cells:

 form nearly continuous lining, main site of gas exchange

 Type II alveolar cells (septal cells):

 secrete alveolar fluid (surfactant reduces tendency to collapse)

 Very thin – only 0.5 µm thick to allow rapid diffusion of gases
Muscles of the Thorax that Assist in Breathing
 Diaphragm is the most important respiratory muscle.
 Other important respiratory muscles include the external and
internal intercostal muscles.
 There are also a number of accessory muscles useful in forced
breathing.
Muscles of the Thorax that Move the Pectoral
Girdle
Muscles of the Thorax and Muscles of the Thorax that
Shoulder that Move the Move the Humerus
Humerus
6.5 Heart
 Located in the mediastinum – anatomical region
extending from the sternum to the vertebral column,
the first rib and between the lungs
 Apex - tip of left ventricle
 Base - posterior surface
 Anterior surface - deep to sternum and ribs
 Inferior surface - between apex and right border
 Right border - faces right lung
 Left border (pulmonary border) - faces left lung
Pericardium and Heart Wall
Layers of the Heart Wall
Epicardium (external layer)
 Visceral layer of serous pericardium
 Smooth, slippery texture to outermost surface
Myocardium
 95% of heart is cardiac muscle
Endocardium (inner layer)
 Smooth lining for chambers of heart, valves and
continuous with lining of large blood vessels
Structure of the Heart
20_03b
20_03c
Right Atrium
 Receives blood from:
 Superior vena cava
 Inferior vena cava
 Coronary sinus

 Interatrial septum has fossa ovalis

 Remnant of foramen ovale

 Blood passes through tricuspid valve (right

atrioventricular valve / AV valve) into right
ventricle
Right Ventricle
 Forms anterior surface of heart
 Trabeculae carneae (TC)
 Ridges formed by raised bundles of cardiac muscle fiber
 Part of conduction system of the heart
 Chordae tendinae (CT)
 Connected tricuspid valve to Papillary muscles (PM)
 Interventricular septum
 Blood leaves through pulmonary valve (pulmonary
semilunar valve / SL valve) into pulmonary trunk
and then right and left pulmonary arteries
Internal Anatomy of the Heart
20_04b
All valves with atria removed; Semilunars closed
Coronary circulation
 Myocardium has its own
network of blood vessels
 Coronary arteries branch from
ascending aorta
 Anastomoses provide
alternate routes or
collateral circuits
 Allows heart muscle to
receive sufficient oxygen
even if an artery is partially
blocked
 Coronary capillaries
 Coronary veins
 Collects in coronary sinus
 Empties into right atrium
Cardiac Muscle Tissue
 Histology
 Compared to skeletal muscle fibers:
 Shorter and less circular
 Mitochondria are larger and more numerous
 Striated like skeletal muscle
 Same arrangement of actin and myosin

 Branching gives “stair-step” appearance

 Usually one centrally located nucleus
 Intercalated discs: connecting ends of fibers
 Desmosomes (holding fibers)
 Gap junctions (conducting action potential)