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19 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What prolongs ribs anteriorly and contributes to the elasticity of the thoracic wall? |
Costal Cartilages |
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What happens to the costal cartilages in elderly patients? |
They undergo calcification, making them radiopaque and less resilient. |
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Where is the weakest part of a rib? |
Just anterior to its angle. |
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What are rib fractures from direct blows or indirect crushing likely to injure? |
Internal organs such as the lung or the spleen |
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Which ribs are most commonly fractured? |
Middle Ribs |
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What can often result from multiple rib fractures, and allows the loose segment of the wall to move paradoxically? |
Flail chest |
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What is an extremely painful injury that impairs ventilation, therefore affecting oxygenation of the blood? |
Flail Chest |
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What are the two types of supernumerary ribs? |
Cervical or Lumbar |
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What type of rib articulates with the C7 vertebrae and may compress the spinal nerves C8 and T1 or the inferior trunk of the brachial plexus? |
Cervical Ribs (present in up to 1% of people) |
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What occurs if a cervical rib compresses the subclavian artery? |
Patient experiences ischemic muscle pain in the upper limb, caused by poor blood supply. |
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What less common structure may confuse the identification of vertebral levels in diagnostic images? |
Lumbar Ribs |
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What uncommon crush injury may result from a traumatic compression of the thoracic wall? |
Sternal Fractures |
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What type of fracture occurs with the body of the sternum? |
Comminuted fracture |
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What is the most common site for a sternal fracture and what does this dislocate? |
The sternal angle; manubriosternal joint dislocation (there is a concern for heart and pulmonary injury) |
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What is a median sternotomy and why is it used? |
Sternum is divided in the median plane and retracted. Used to gain access to the thoracic cavity for surgical procedures on the heart and great vessels. |
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What is the sternal biopsy often used for? |
bone marrow needle biopsy (because of its breadth and subcutaneous position). For bone marrow transplants and metastatic cancer. |
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What can be detected radiographically by noting paradoxical movement? |
Paralysis of the diaphragm |
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Why does paralysis of half of the diaphragm, from injury to the phrenic nerve, not affect the other half? |
Each dome has a separate nerve supply |
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When does the paralyzed dome of the diaphragm descend? |
during expiration as it is pushed down by the positive pressure in the lungs. |
