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Lecture

Intercostal Spaces Anatomy

In course

BIO-320: Morphology I

Ce cours est une préparation intensive à l'examen d'entrée en 3ème année de Médecine. Les matières enseignées sont la morphologie macroscopique (anatomie), microscopique (histologie) du corps humain. La matière est présentée dans une perspective médicale s ...

Description

This lecture covers the anatomy of the intercostal muscles, spaces, and vessels. It explains the origin and insertion of the external, internal, and innermost intercostal muscles, as well as their innervation and functions. The lecture also discusses the branches of the thoracic aorta, the intercostal arteries, and veins. Additionally, it delves into the structure of the thoracic wall, the parietal and visceral pleura, and the relationship between the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm.

Instructor

Romain Zufferey

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Health sciences

Pulmonology: Respiratory disease

Related concepts (31)

Thoracic diaphragm

The thoracic diaphragm, or simply the diaphragm (ˈdaɪəfɹæm; diáphragma), is a sheet of internal skeletal muscle in humans and other mammals that extends across the bottom of the thoracic cavity. The diaphragm is the most important muscle of respiration, and separates the thoracic cavity, containing the heart and lungs, from the abdominal cavity: as the diaphragm contracts, the volume of the thoracic cavity increases, creating a negative pressure there, which draws air into the lungs.

Muscles of respiration

The muscles of respiration are the muscles that contribute to inhalation and exhalation, by aiding in the expansion and contraction of the thoracic cavity. The diaphragm and, to a lesser extent, the intercostal muscles drive respiration during quiet breathing. The elasticity of these muscles is crucial to the health of the respiratory system and to maximize its functional capabilities. Thoracic diaphragm The diaphragm is the major muscle responsible for breathing.

Pulmonary pleurae

The pulmonary pleurae (: pleura) are the two opposing layers of serous membrane overlying the lungs and the inside of the surrounding chest walls. The inner pleura, called the visceral pleura, covers the surface of each lung and dips between the lobes of the lung as fissures, and is formed by the invagination of lung buds into each thoracic sac during embryonic development.

Pleural cavity

The pleural cavity, pleural space, or interpleural space is the potential space between the pleurae of the pleural sac that surrounds each lung. A small amount of serous pleural fluid is maintained in the pleural cavity to enable lubrication between the membranes, and also to create a pressure gradient. The serous membrane that covers the surface of the lung is the visceral pleura and is separated from the outer membrane, the parietal pleura, by just the film of pleural fluid in the pleural cavity.

Pleural effusion

A pleural effusion is accumulation of excessive fluid in the pleural space, the potential space that surrounds each lung. Under normal conditions, pleural fluid is secreted by the parietal pleural capillaries at a rate of 0.6 millilitre per kilogram weight per hour, and is cleared by lymphatic absorption leaving behind only 5–15 millilitres of fluid, which helps to maintain a functional vacuum between the parietal and visceral pleurae.

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Respiratory System: Introduction and Anatomy

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Internal Thoracic Artery: Branches and Irrigation