Thoracic Wall
These ribs attach directly to the sternum with their own costal cartilage.
What are true ribs (1–7)?
The mediastinum is located between these two organs.
What are the lungs?
The right side of the heart receives blood that is low in this.
What is oxygen?
The organ responsible for voice production.
What is the larynx?
Fractures of these bones can cause a “flail chest.”
What are ribs?
The inferior thoracic aperture is also known as this.
What is the thoracic outlet?
The structure that divides the superior and inferior mediastinum is at this vertebral level.
What is the sternal angle / T4–T5?
The valve between the right atrium and right ventricle.
What is the tricuspid valve?
These are the “true” vocal cords responsible for sound.
What are the vocal folds?
Fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity is called this.
What is a pleural effusion / hydrothorax?
This muscle is the primary muscle of inspiration.
What is the diaphragm?
The superior mediastinum contains this large vein that returns blood from the upper body.
What is the superior vena cava (SVC)?
The “lub” sound (S1) is caused by the closing of these valves.
What are the AV valves (tricuspid and bicuspid)?
The trachea divides into right and left main bronchi at this landmark.
What is the sternal angle (T4–T5)?
The procedure to drain fluid from the pleural cavity.
What is thoracentesis?
This muscle lies on the inner surface of the anterior thoracic wall and weakly depresses the ribs.
What is the transversus thoracis?
The azygos vein provides a collateral pathway between these two major veins.
What are the superior vena cava (SVC) and inferior vena cava (IVC)?
In most people, the posterior interventricular artery arises from this coronary artery, determining heart dominance.
What is the right coronary artery (right-dominant heart)?
This muscle abducts the vocal folds and is the only one that opens the rima glottidis.
What is the posterior cricoarytenoid?
Inflammation of the pleura that causes sharp chest pain during breathing is called this.
What is pleuritis (pleurisy)?
The diaphragm passes three key structures at T8, T10, and T12. Name all three.
What are the IVC (T8), esophagus (T10), and aorta (T12)?
The thymus is located in this mediastinal compartment and undergoes what change after puberty?
What is the superior mediastinum, and it involutes (shrinks and becomes fatty tissue)?
Damage to this part of the heart’s conduction system can lead to heart block and arrhythmia.
What is the atrioventricular (AV) node or bundle of His?
The left lung has this indentation for the heart and one fewer lobe than the right — name both features.
What are the cardiac notch and two lobes (superior and inferior)?
A puncture wound that allows air into the pleural cavity, causing lung collapse, is called this condition.
What is a pneumothorax?