ANATOMY OF THORAX

THORAX

The region between the abdomen inferiorly and the

root of the neck superiorly. It forms from the thoracic
wall, its superficial structures (breast, muscles, and
skin) and the thoracic cavity.
• The thorax is the chest that contains
lungs, trachea and bronchi (these are the
organs responsible for the respiration to
supply oxygen and disposing of carbon
dioxide.

• It also contains the thorax, an outer

structure that is referred to as thoracic
cage. This structure contains the
sternum, 12 pairs of ribs, 12 thoracic
vertebrae, muscles, and cartilage.
• For the upper right part of the thoracic
cage is the clavicle or also called
collarbones. As you can see in the
presentation, the clavicle has slender
and doubly curved bones.

• The upper border of manubrium is

Suprasternal Notch or also called Jugular
notch. (This notch is visible in our neck,
between in the clavicle and in the top of
the manubrium of sternum.
• Manubrium of sternum, it is superior-
most element of the sternum and is the
widest part of this bone which is to form
of articulation between the clavicles and
the first pair of the ribs, same with the
Suprasternal notch since it was located on
top of it.

• The intercostal space which can be found

between the two ribs and may be can be
found also in the above or below but
present in the thorax. (The total of
intercostal space is 11)
• The sternal angle or also called
the Angle of Louis. It is a
fibrocartilage joint that allows for
some movement so that the
body can move anteriorly during
deep inspiration.

• Body of the sternum or

mesosternum is the longest part
of the sternum located anteriorly
along the midline of the thoracic
region.
• Costochondral Junction are the
joints between the ribs and costal
cartilage in the front of the rib
cage.

• The Xiphoid process, the lower

and end of the sternum which is
not attached to any rib cage.
• Costal Cartilage can be found
only at the anterior ends of the
rib which provides a medial
extension.

• Dome of the Diaphragm is

located below the lungs and in
the right side. The diaphragm has
dome shaped because of the
space provided to reduce
pressure in the chest cavity and
this pressure changes forces air
into the lungs.
• The costal angle located in
between the left and right costal
margins where the rib acts bent is
located on the proximal part of
the body of the rib.

• If there is a costal angle and it has

costal margin, located in the
lower margin of the thoracic wall
within the cartilage from the level
of 7th to the 10th ribs form.