• POSITION AND SURFACE LANDMARKS
Thoracic cage:
- bony structure with conical shape, narrower at the top, defined by sternum, 12 pairs of ribs, 12 thoracic vertebrae
- Its floor is diaphragm: musculotendinous septum
...
• POSITION AND SURFACE LANDMARKS
Thoracic cage:
- bony structure with conical shape, narrower at the top, defined by sternum, 12 pairs of ribs, 12 thoracic vertebrae
- Its floor is diaphragm: musculotendinous septum that separates thoracic cavity from abdomen. 1st 7 ribs attached directly to sternum via their costal cartilages, ribs 8,9,10 attach to costal cartilage above, ribs 11 & 12: floating w free palpable tips
- Costochondral junctions: joint at which ribs join their cartilages: not palpable
● Anterior Thoracic Landmarks
○ Suprasternal notch : hollow U-shaped depression just above sternum, btw clavicles
○ Sternum : breastbone w 3 parts: manubrium, body, xiphoid process
○ Sternal angle : often called angle of Louis: articulation of manubrium + body of
• sternum, continuous w 2nd rib.
o Useful place to start counting ribs, help localize respiratory finding horizontally.
o Palpate lightly to 2nd rib + slide down to 2nd intercostal space
o Angle of Louis also marks site of tracheal bifurcation into right + left main bronchi; corresponds w upper border of atria of heart, lies above 4th thoracic vertebra on the back
Costal angle : right + left costal margins form angle where they meet at xiphoid process. Usually 90 degrees or less, angle increases when rib cage is chronically overinflated, as in emphysema
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