Tan, John Carlo C.

9/2/19

U2A Dr. Justado

Thorax and Respiratory Muscle

Thoracic Cage

The thoracic cage is formed by the 12 thoracic vertebrae, 12 pairs of ribs

with its associated coastal cartilages, and the sternum. The thoracic cage
represents a bird cage with horizontal bars formed by the ribs and costal
cartilages; it is supported by the vertical sternum on its anterior side and by the
thoracic vertebrae on its posterior side.

Functions:

1. Serves to support the thorax

2. Serves as a protection for the vital thoracic and abdominal internal organs from external forces
3. Resisting negative internal pressures generated by the elastic recoil of the lungs and respiration-
induced movements
4. Providing attachment for and supporting the weight of the upper limbs
5. Providing the anchoring attachment of many of the muscles that move and maintain the position
of the upper limbs relative to the trunk

12 Thoracic Vertebrae

The thoracic vertebrae are strong bones that are located

in the middle of the vertebral column, sandwiched between the
cervical ones above and the lumbar vertebrae below. Each of the
vertebras is separated by intervertebral discs. It is the support of
the rib cage on its posterior side with its own facets for rib
attachment.
12 Pairs of Ribs

The ribs are curved, flat bones which form the majority of the
thoracic cage. The ribs are extremely light but highly resilient built for
one of its main functions, to protect the internal thoracic organs. All
of the ribs articulate with the vertebral column but not all of them
articulate with the sternum that is why they are classified into 3:

1. The (vertebrosternal) true ribs which is attached directly to

the sternum via their own costal cartilage
2. The false (vertebrochondral) ribs are connected to the
sternum indirectly via the cartilage of the rib above them
3. The floating (vertebral) ribs are the two pairs of ribs that
articulate with the vertebral column but is not attached to the
sternum

Sternum

The sternum is the bone that lies in the anterior midline of our
thorax. It forms part of the rib cage and the anterior-most part of the
thorax. Its functions are to protect the lungs, heart, and thoracic blood
vessels from mechanical damage; it is also where the true and false ribs
are directly and indirectly attached. The sternum is composed of 3 parts
with the sternal angle:

1. Manubrium – a large quadrangular shaped bone that lies above

the body of the sternum. The superior border of the bone serves as the
jugular notch with the clavicular notches located on both sides of the
jugular notch projected upward.
2. Sternal angle – can be felt at the junction of the manubrium and
the body of the sternum. The junction is an important landmark because it
identifies the location of the second rib. The aforementioned identification allows the ribs to be
counted.
3. Body of Sternum – a long flat structure, with a convex anterior surface making its posterior
surface concave. It has facets on its lateral borders for articulation with the costal cartilage of the
3rd to 7th ribs along with the part of second costal cartilage.
4. Xiphoid Process – a small projection of bone which is usually pointed. It possesses demifacet (half
of a facet) for part of seventh costal cartilage at its superolateral angle.
Respiratory Muscle

Muscles of Inspiration

External intercostal muscles elevate the ribs,

thus increasing the width of the thoracic cavity by
pulling the rib below them when they contract.

Diaphragm is the dome-shaped that separates

the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity and
causes the major movement produced in the thorax
during quiet breathing. The diaphragm descend, thus
increasing the longitudinal dimension of the thoracic
cavity, it also helps in elevating the lower ribs.

Sternocleidomastoid & Scalene muscles

helps during forced inspiration by raising the
sternum and the upper ribs. The involvement of
the aforementioned muscles depends on the
degree of the respiratory effort. The scalene
muscles are consistently active during quiet
breathing, while the sternocleidomastoid is active
when an increase in the respiratory volume. Both
muscles are simultaneously activated when one
breaths in at the maximal flow rate. Pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, & serratus anterior’s contraction
also elevates the sternum and ribs which also increases the thoracic volume.
Muscles of Expiration

Rectus abdominis muscle and external oblique muscles’

contraction pushes the ribs up and in which compresses the
abdomen resulting into expiration by increasing the pressure
inside the abdominal cavity.

Internal intercostal muscles contract during forced

expiration depresses the ribs.

Internal oblique muscles and transversus abdominis

contracts the abdomen along with its own contraction.

Latissimus dorsi’s contraction brings the thoracic cavity

forward which compresses cavity resulting in a force expiration.