Anterior Thoracic Landmarks Picture
Anterior Thoracic Landmarks - Suprasternal Notch
U-shaped depression just above sternum, between clavicals
Anterior Thoracic Landmarks - Sternum
breastbone" has 3 parts - manubrium, body, xiphoid process
Anterior Thoracic Landmarks - Sternal Angle
angle of Louis"; articulation of manubrium w/body of sternum and continuous w/2nd rib; useful place to start counting ribs, which helps localize respiratory finding horizontally; can plapate down to 10th rib w/intercostal space numbered by rib above it
Anterior Thoracic Landmarks - Costal Angle
right and left costal margins form angle where they meet xipoid process; usually 90 degrees or less; angle increases when rib cage is chronically overinflated, as in emphysema
Posterior Thoracic Landmarks Picture
Posterior Thoracic Landmarks - Vertebral Prominens
start here; flex head and feel most prominant bony spur protruding at base of neck; this is spinous process of C7; if 2 bumps feel equally prominant, the upper one is C7 and lowe ris T1
Posterior Thoracic Landmarks - Spinous Processes
count down these knobs on vertebrae, which stack together to form spinal column; note they align w/their same numbered ribs only down to T4; after T4, spinous processess angle downward from their vertebral body and overlie the vertebral body and rib below
Posterior Thoracic Landmarks - Inferior Border of Scapula
scapula located symmetrically in each hemithorax; lower tip is usually at 7th or 8th rib
Posterior Thoracic Landmarks - 12th rib
palpate midway between spine and person's side to identify its free tip
Reference Lines - Anterior
Reference Lines - Posterior
Reference Lines - Lateral
Lobes of Lungs - General
right lung is shorter than left lung because of underlying liver; left lung is narrower than right because heart bulges to left; right lung has 3 lobes, left has 2; lobes not arranged in horizontal bands but stacked in diagonal sloping segments separated
Lobes of Lungs - Anterior
oblique (major or diagonal) fissure crosses 5th rib in midaxillary line and terminates at 6th rib in midax; horizontal (minor) fissure divides right upper and middle lobes; extends 5th rib in right midax to 3rd intercostal space or 4th rib at right sterna
Lobes of Lungs - Posterior
posterior chest is almost all lower lobes; upper lobe occupies smaller band of tissue from apices at T1 down to T3 or T4; lower levil begins and inferior border reaches down to T10 on expiration and T12 on inspiration; Right middle lobe does not project o
Lobes of Lungs - Lateral
lung tissue extends from apex of axilla down to 7th or 8th rib; right upper lobe extends from apex of axilla down to horizontal fissure at 5th rib; right middle lobe extends from horizontal fissure down and forward to 6th rib at midclavicular line; right
Trachea
bifurcates just below the sternal angle into right and left main bronchi; posteriorly, tracheal bifurcation is at level of T4 or T5; right main bronchus is shorter, wider, and more vertical than left main bronchus