Visceral Structures of the Thorax - Arranged
Alphabetically
|
| Organ/Part of Organ |
Location/Description |
Notes |
| apex |
tip of the left ventricle of the heart |
apex of the heart is located 3" to the left of the
midline at the level of the 5th intercostal space |
| atrioventricular bundle |
part of the conduction system of the heart |
atrioventricular bundle is a strand of specialized
myocardium that passes through the right fibrous trigone into the
muscular part of the interventricular septum; it divides into right and
left branches to supply the ventricles; also known as: bundle of His |
| atrioventricular node |
part of the conduction system of the heart |
atrioventricular node is located in the wall of the
right atrium above the opening of the coronary sinus and the septal cusp
of the tricuspid valve |
| atrioventricular valve, left |
heart valve located between the left atrium and the
left ventricle |
left atrioventricular valve has two valve cusps; also
known as: mitral or bicuspid valve |
| atrioventricular valve, right |
atrioventricular node between the right atrium and the
right ventricle |
right atrioventricular valve has three valve cusps;
also known as: tricuspid valve |
| atrium, right |
chamber of the heart that receives deoxygenated blood
from the systemic circulation (body) |
right atrium forms the right margin of the heart; it
receives blood from the superior vena cava, inferior vena cava and
coronary sinus |
| atrium, left |
chamber of the heart that receives oxygenated blood
from the pulmonic circulation (lungs) |
left atrium is located on the posterior aspect of the
heart; it receives blood from the pulmonary vv. |
| auricle |
small appendage that projects anteriorly from the
atrium |
paired, one on each atrium; right auricle lies beside
the aorta and covers the right coronary artery; left auricle lies beside
the pulmonary trunk |
| base |
the superior aspect of heart |
base of the heart is where the aorta, pulmonary trunk
and superior vena cava exit/enter the heart |
| bronchi |
the air conducting passages of the lungs |
bronchi may be classified as primary, secondary (lobar),
and tertiary (segmental) |
| bronchus, primary |
first branch of the air conducting system arising from
the bifurcation of the trachea at T4/T5 intervertebral disc |
paired, right and left; one primary bronchus enters the
hilus of each lung; the right primary bronchus is shorter, larger in
diameter and more vertically oriented than the left so that aspirated
foreign bodies tend to lodge in the right primary bronchus |
| bronchus, secondary |
a branch of the air conducting system arising from the
primary bronchus |
there are 3 secondary bronchi in the right lung: upper,
middle, lower; there are 2 secondary bronchi in the left lung: upper,
lower; also known as: lobar bronchi |
| bronchus, tertiary |
a branch of the air conducting system arising from the
secondary (lobar) bronchus |
there are 10 tertiary bronchi in the right lung:
branching from the right superior lobar bronchus - apical, anterior,
posterior; branching from the right middle lobar bronchus - medial,
lateral; branching from the right inferior lobar bronchus - superior,
anterior basal, posterior basal, medial basal, lateral basal; there are
8 tertiary bronchi in the left lung: branching from the left superior
lobar bronchus - apicoposterior, anterior; branching from the lingular
bronchus (off of the superior lobar bronchus) - superior lingular,
inferior lingular; branching from the inferior lobar bronchus - superior,
anteromedial basal, posterior basal, lateral basal; also known as:
segmental bronchi |
| bronchus, segmental |
a branch of the air conducting system arising from the
secondary (lobar) bronchus |
there are 10 tertiary bronchi in the right lung:
branching from the right superior lobar bronchus - apical, anterior,
posterior; branching from the right middle lobar bronchus - medial,
lateral; branching from the right inferior lobar bronchus - superior,
anterior basal, posterior basal, medial basal, lateral basal; there are
8 tertiary bronchi in the left lung: branching from the left superior
lobar bronchus - apicoposterior, anterior; branching from the lingular
bronchus (off of the superior lobar bronchus) - superior lingular,
inferior lingular; branching from the inferior lobar bronchus - superior,
anteromedial basal, posterior basal, lateral basal; also known as:
segmental bronchi |
| cardiac notch |
concavity or notch along anterior border of left lung |
separates lingula below from upper portion of superior
lobe of left lung |
| carina |
keel-shaped cartilage lying within the tracheal
bifurcation |
carina trachealis is an important landmark during
endoscopy of the bronchial tree |
| chordae tendineae |
thin connective tissue cords that attach the
atrioventricular valve cusps to the papillary mm. |
chordae tendineae are found only in the ventricles, not
in the atria |
| coronary sulcus |
groove on the surface of the heart that separates the
atria from the ventricles |
coronary sulcus contains the coronary sinus, circumflex
a., and right coronary a. |
| crista terminalis |
ridge of cardiac muscle separating the smooth sinus
venarum posteriorly from the roughened wall of the primitive atrium
anteriorly |
the sinuatrial node lies within the superior end of the
crista terminalis |
| cupula |
serous membrane lining the pleural cavity which extends
above the level of the 1st rib into the root of the neck |
cupular pleura is continuous inferiorly with the costal
and mediastinal parietal pleurae; it is reinforced by a specialization
of scalene fascia (called Sibson's fascia or suprapleural membrane);
also known as: cervical parietal pleura or cervical dome of pleura |
| esophagus |
the portion of the gastrointestinal tract between the
pharynx and the stomach |
connects: superiorly with laryngopharynx at lower
border of cricoid cartilage; inferiorly it passes through diaphragm at
the T10 vertebral level to reach the stomach; the upper 1/3 is skeletal
muscle innervated by the recurrent laryngeal, the lower 2/3rds is smooth
muscle innervated by the vagus nn. via the esophageal plexus |
| fissure, oblique |
deep groove in the surface of the lung that separates
the upper lobe from the lower lobe (both lungs), and the middle lobe
from the lower lobe (right lung) |
oblique fissure extends from the level of the T3
vertebra posteriorly to the 6th costochondral junction anteriorly |
| fissure, horizontal |
deep groove in the surface of the lung that separates
the middle lobe from the upper lobe (right lung only) |
horizontal fissure extends from the 5th rib at the
mid-axillary line along the 4th rib to the sternum anteriorly |
| fossa ovalis |
shallow depression in the left wall of the right atrium |
fossa ovalis is the remnant of the foramen ovale which
provided an open communication between the right atrium and left atrium
in the fetus |
| heart |
muscular pump for blood located within middle
mediastinum of the thorax |
heart is nearly surrounded by the pericardial sac and
pericardial cavity |
| interventricular sulcus, anterior |
groove between the ventricles on the anterior surface
of the heart |
anterior interventricular sulcus contains the anterior
interventricular a. and the great cardiac v.; it marks the location of
the interventricular septum |
| interventricular sulcus, posterior |
groove between the ventricles on the diaphragmatic
surface of the heart |
posterior interventricular sulcus contains the
posterior interventricular a. and the middle cardiac v.; it marks the
location of the interventricular septum |
| ligamentum arteriosum |
fibrous cord of connective tissue that connects the
left pulmonary a. near its origin with the undersurface of the aortic
arch |
ligamentum arteriosum is a remnant of the ductus
arteriosus; the left recurrent laryngeal n. passes beneath it |
| lingula |
lower portion of superior lobe of left lung; below
cardiac notch |
|
| limbus fossa ovalis |
the ridge around the fossa ovalis in the left wall of
the right atrium |
limbus fossa ovalis is the margin of the septum primum |
| lobe, inferior |
the portion of the lung supplied by the inferior lobar
bronchus |
inferior lobe of the right lung: possesses 5
bronchopulmonary segments - superior, anterior basal, posterior basal,
medial basal, lateral basal; inferior lobe of the left lung: possesses 4
bronchopulmonary segments - superior, anteromedial basal, posterior
basal, lateral basal |
| lobe, middle |
the portion of the right lung supplied by the middle
lobar bronchus |
middle lobe is found in the right lung only; it
possesses 2 bronchopulmonary segments: medial and lateral; lingula of
the inferior lobe of the left lung is equivalent to the middle lobe of
the right lung |
| lobe, superior |
the portion of the lung supplied by the superior lobar
bronchus |
superior lobe of the right lung: possesses three
bronchopulmonary segments - apical, anterior and posterior; superior
lobe of the left lung: possesses four bronchopulmonary segments -
apicoposterior, anterior, superior lingular, inferior lingular |
| lung |
the portion of the respiratory system where exchange of
gasses occurs between the air and the blood; located in the thoracic
cavity |
paired; right lung is divided into three lobes:
superior, middle and inferior; left lung has two lobes: superior and
inferior |
| mitral valve |
heart valve located between the left atrium and the
left ventricle |
mitral valve has two valve cusps; it is named for the
similarity of its shape to that of a bishop's miter; also known as: left
atrioventricular valve or bicuspid valve |
| moderator band |
ridge of cardiac muscle spanning from the
interventricular septum to the anterior papillary m. in the right
ventricle |
septomarginal trabecula contains part of the right
branch of the atrioventricular bundle; also known as: septomarginal
trabecula |
| papillary muscle |
a small, nipple-like projection of cardiac muscle
located within the ventricles |
papillary muscles attach to the cusps of the
atrioventricular valves via chordae tendineae and act to keep the valve
cusps from prolapsing under systolic blood pressure; there are three in
the right atrium: anterior, posterior, septal; there are two in the left
atrium: anterior, posterior |
| pectinate muscles |
prominent ridges of myocardium located on the inner
surface of the right atrium |
pectinate muscles are very pronounced in the right
atrium and in both auricles |
| pericardial sinus, oblique |
an area of the pericardial cavity located behind the
left atrium of heart |
serous pericardium reflects onto the inferior vena cava
and pulmonary vv. to define this space |
| pericardial sinus, transverse |
an area of the pericardial cavity located behind the
aorta and pulmonary trunk and anterior to the superior vena cava |
transverse pericardial sinus was a simple structure
when the heart tube began to form during development; it separates the
outflow vessels from the inflow vessels of the heart |
| pericardium, fibrous |
a fibrous sac that attaches to the central tendon of
the diaphragm and fuses with the adventitia of the great vessels
superiorly |
fibrous pericardium contains the pericardial cavity and
heart; it is lined on its inner surface by the parietal layer of serous
pericardium; it defines the outermost boundary of the middle mediastinum |
| pericardium, parietal serous |
serous membrane lining the pericardial cavity; it is
located on the inner surface of the fibrous pericardium |
parietal serous pericardium reflects onto the heart at
the origins of the great vessels to become continuous with the visceral
serous pericardium |
| pericardium, visceral serous |
serous membrane covering the surface of the heart |
visceral serous pericardium reflects onto the inner
surface of the fibrous pericardium at the origins of the great vessels
to become continuous with the parietal serous pericardium; also known as:
epicardium |
| pleura |
serous membrane lining the pleural cavity |
there are two types of pleura: visceral pleura covers
the lungs, parietal pleura lines the inner surfaces of the walls of
pleural cavity; parietal pleura is sensitive to pain but visceral pleura
is not sensitive to pain |
| pleura, cervical parietal |
serous membrane lining the pleural cavity which extends
above the level of the 1st rib into the root of the neck |
cervical parietal pleura is continuous inferiorly with
the costal and mediastinal parietal pleurae; it is reinforced by a
specialization of scalene fascia (called Sibson's fascia or suprapleural
membrane); also known as: cupula or cervical dome of pleura |
| pleura, costal parietal |
serous membrane lining the pleural cavity on the inner
surfaces of the ribs, costal cartilages, and intercostal mm. |
costal parietal pleura is continuous anteriorly with
the mediastinal parietal pleura at the costomediastinal reflection; it
is continuous posteriorly with the mediastinal parietal pleural at the
vertebral bodies; it is continuous inferiorly with the diaphragmatic
parietal pleura at the costodiaphragmatic reflection; it is continuous
superiorly with the cervical parietal pleura at the level of the 1st rib |
| pleura, diaphragmatic parietal |
serous membrane lining the pleural cavity on the
superior surface of the diaphragm |
diaphragmatic parietal pleura is continuous superiorly
with the costal parietal pleura at the costodiaphragmatic reflection; it
is continuous superiorly with the mediastinal pleura at the inferomedial
borders of the pleural cavities |
| pleura, mediastinal parietal |
serous membrane lining the pleural cavity on the
lateral surface of the mediastinum |
mediastinal parietal pleura is continuous anteriorly
with the costal parietal pleura at the costomediastinal reflection; it
is continuous inferiorly with the diaphragmatic pleura at the
inferomedial borders of the pleural cavities; it is continuous
posteriorly with the costal parietal pleura lateral to the vertebral
bodies; it is continuous superiorly with the cervical pleura at the
level of the 1st rib |
| pleura, visceral |
serous membrane lining the surfaces of the lungs |
visceral pleura extends into the oblique and horizontal
fissures of the lungs; it does not have pain fibers |
| pulmonary conus |
smooth area of the right ventricle below the opening
into the pulmonary trunk |
pulmonary conus is the pulmonary part of the conus
cordis which divides during development to form the outflow portions of
the right and left ventricles |
| pulmonary ligament |
fold of pleura located below the root of the lung |
pulmonary ligament is where the visceral pleura and the
mediastinal parietal pleura are continuous with each other |
| semilunar valves |
valve with three pocket-shaped cusps located in the
base of the pulmonary trunk and ascending aorta |
semilunar valve has a thin endothelial free margin on
each cusp called a lunula; a dense nodule is located at the midpoint of
the free margin of each valve cusp; the pulmonary semilunar valve has
anterior, left and right cusps; the aortic semilunar valve has right,
left and posterior cusps |
| septomarginal trabecula |
ridge of cardiac muscle spanning from the
interventricular septum to the anterior papillary m. in the right
ventricle |
septomarginal trabecula contains part of the right
branch of the atrioventricular bundle; also known as: moderator band |
| sinuatrial node |
part of the conduction system of the heart |
sinuatrial node is located within the crista terminalis
near the superior vena cava; it is the "pacemaker" of the
heart |
| sulcus terminalis |
groove on the external surface of the right atrium
marking the location of the crista terminalis |
the sinuatrial node is located at the superior end of
the crista terminalis |
| trabeculae carnae |
ridges of cardiac muscle located on the inner wall of
both ventricles |
the word trabecula is derived from the Latin word trabs,
which means a beam |
| trachea |
main airway that lies anterior to the esophagus |
trachea extends from vertebral level C6 to the level of
the T4/5 intervertebral disc; superiorly it is connected to the cricoid
cartilage via the cricotracheal ligament; it bifurcates into two primary
bronchi |
| tricuspid valve |
a three cusped valve located at the ostium between the
right atrium and the right ventricle |
tricuspid valve possesses anterior, posterior and
septal cusps; also known as: right atrioventricular valve |
| ventricle, right |
heart chamber that pumps blood to the pulmonary
circulation |
right ventricle has a septomarginal trabecula and 3
papillary mm.; it pumps blood into the pulmonary trunk |
| ventricle, left |
heart chamber that pumps blood to the systemic
circulation |
left ventricle has 2 papillary mm.; it pumps blood into
the ascending aorta |
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