Thorax

As thorax ( altgr. θώραξ ) of the chest is called in medicine / anatomy. The wall of the thorax from the thoracic spine, sternum and ribs ( bony thorax) and of muscles formed. It surrounds the chest cavity ( cavum thoracis ) and, due to the dome shape of the diaphragm, and the upper (with animals front ) part of the abdominal cavity. The thorax outside and inside -faceted respiratory muscles makes breathing in terrestrial vertebrates.

Anatomy

The sternal angle ( sternal angle ) in humans is equal to the second rib. The cartilaginous tip of the 11th rib can side that are strobed the 12th rib back. The lower angle ( inferior angle ) of the shoulder blade ( scapula ) is equal to the 7th rib and the 7th intercostal space ( intercostal space ).

Inside the chest ( thorax ), the chest cavity. It is divided by a septum ( mediastinum ) in two pleural cavities. In the mediastinum are the heart, the thymus, large blood vessels ( thoracic portion of the aorta, vena cava, pulmonary vessels ), the trachea and esophagus, various nerves ( phrenic nerve, vagus nerve, sympathetic chain ), lymph nodes, lymphatic duct and the thoracic duct. The side of the mediastinum are the lungs. Due to the curvature of the dome of the diaphragm and some organs of the upper abdomen are still within the chest ( thorax ).

Clinical aspects

The examination of the chest inside is made by percussion, various imaging techniques or thoracoscopy.

Injuries to the thorax lead to hemothorax (blood collection), pneumothorax ( accumulation of air ), tension pneumothorax or chylothorax ( Lymphansammlung ). In a strong compression of the chest, there may be a traumatic asphyxia. It is difficult to distinguish one not caused by heart disease chest pain from a true angina pectoris. The extraction of liquids from the thorax is called thoracentesis.

To malformations of the thorax see pigeon chest, funnel chest, Harren stone deformity. An incomplete closing of the thorax in the embryo is called Thorakoschisis.

The term breast fever, which can be found in older documents as a cause of death, denotes various febrile diseases of the thoracic organs, such as pneumonia and pleurisy.

Thoracic Surgery

The thoracic surgery involves the prevention and diagnosis, including the instrumental examination technique and postoperative treatment of surgical diseases and malformations of the lung, pleura, the bronchial, mediastinal and chest wall, particularly in the context of tumor treatment. It is usually done as a thoracotomy, ie with opening the thorax. More and more are becoming increasingly important video-assisted minimally invasive surgical techniques such as thoracoscopy: they allow minimal skin incisions that cause a significantly reduced surgical trauma compared with open surgery.

Chest tubes

A tube or a cannula is referred to as the chest tube, which produces a connection from the interior to the exterior of the thorax of the body. The term chest tube Mediastinaldrainagen, Pleuradrainagen and pericardial drainage are summarized. Typically, these drains flow into collecting vessels that are connected to a suction device, an electric lock or a Heimlich valve. The size varies according to type and function up to 36 Charriere.