THORAX

Thoracic case
AT A GLANCE……
 Thorax
 Thoracic case
 Sternum
 Parts
 Attachments
 Ossification
 Congenital defects
 Deformity
 Clinical Importance
 Relations
 Sternal Angle- Importance
Thorax

 Trank of the body is devided by diaphragm into two parts:

 Thorax(Upper part)
 Abdomen(lower part)
 Thorax is supported by a skeletal framework called thoracic case
 Thoracic cavity contains-
 the principal organ of respiration-the lung
 circulation-the heart
 Both are vital for body
Boundaries of thoracic case

 Behind-
 Bodies of 12 thoracic vertebrae and their intervening discs
 In fornt-
 Sternum,which consists of manubrium,body and xiphoid
process.
 On each side-
 Twelve ribs;the ribs and their cartilages are separated by
eleven intercostal spaces.
Inlet of thorax-

It is reniform in shape.
Behind -body of T1
Sides by the first rib and its
cartilage
Infornt by the upper border of
the manubrium
 Outlet of thorax-
 Behind the body of T12
 At the sides by 11 th and 12 th ribs
 In fornt by 7th,8th,9th and 10th costal cartilages and xiphoid process forming an
infra-sternal angle
Functions of thoracic cage

1.Thoracic cavity contains and protects essential organs of respiration and circulation
2.Some of the subdiaphragmatic organ e.g. liver, stomach and spleen are sheltered
beleath the costal margins.
3.It alters the diameters of thorax in different phases of respiration by the movements
of ribs and the diaphragm.
Inspiration active process
Expiration mostly passive
Sternum

 Sternum is elongated flat bone .

 It consists of three parts from above downwards-
 1.Maanubrium sterni(prosternum)
 2.body(Mesosternum)
 3.Xiphisternum (Metasternum)
Sternum
Sternal angle -

 Obtuse angle
 Importance-
 Some joints ( which type of joint)-
 All the mid line joints are secondary cartilaginous joints
except xiphisternal joint and symphysis menti(both are
primary cartilaginous joints)
 Sternoclavicular joint-saddle variety of synovial joint
 1st chondrosternal joint –primary cartilaginous joint
 Rest of chondrosternal joints- plane variety of synovial
joints
Anatomical points

1. Quadrilateral manubrium sterni is directed upward

2. 2. triangular xiphoid process is directed downward
3. Anterior surface of body is flat and it is marked by
three transverse ridges
4. 4.anterior surface of manubrium sterni is convex from
side to side and concave from above downward
Sternohyoid
muscle
Importance of sternal angle-

 Important land mark to count rib at this level (2 nd costal cartilage join
sternum here)
 Horizontal plane passing through this angle divides into superior and inferior
mediastinum.
 Superior border od heart lies at this level
 Ascending aorta ends here, arch of aorta starts and ends here and descending
thoracic aorta starts here.
 Trachea bifurcates here into right and left principal bronchus
 Azygous vein arches over lung and drains into superior vena cava and superior
vena cava pierces fibrous pericardium at this level .
 Pulmonary trunk divides into right and left pulmonary artery at this level
 Thoracic duct deviates from right to left behind the oesophagus , close to this
level.
 Sternum moves forward and backward at the sterno-manubrial joint during
respiration
Ossification of sternum

 Intracartilaginous
 Primary center
 Secondary center
 Congenital defects-
 deformities
 1.Pectus excavatum/funnel chest
 2.Pectus carinatum/pigeon chest
 Clinical importamce of sternum
Pectus carinatum
Pectus excavatum
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