Anatomy Atlases: Atlas of Human Anatomy in Cross Section: Section 3. Middle Thorax (Heart and Lungs)

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Atlas of Human Anatomy in Cross Section: Section 3. Middle Thorax (Heart and Lungs)

Plate 3.9

Ronald A. Bergman, Ph.D., Adel K. Afifi, M.D., Jean J. Jew, M.D., and Paul C. Reimann, B.S.
Peer Review Status: Externally Peer Reviewed

Upper Left Quadrant	Lower Left Quadrant	Lower Right Quadrant	Upper Right Quadrant
1. Rib 7 and anterior mediastinal fat and cardiac fat on right atrium 2. Superior epigastric a. and v. 3. Rib 6 4. Esophageal hiatus of diaphragm 5. Rib 5 and lung, right middle lobe, medial segment 6. Pectoralis major m. 7. Right lung, middle lobe, lateral segment 8. Rib 6 9. Diaphragm 10. Inferior vena cava 11. Oblique fissure, right lung 12. Rib 7	13. Liver, right lobe 14. Lung, right lower lobe, anterior basal segment 15. Serratus anterior m. 16. Intercostal neurovascular bundle 17. Central tendon of diaphragm 18. Latissimus dorsi m. and right lung, lower lobe, lateral basal segment 19. Lung, right lower lobe, posterior basal segment 20. Lung, right lower lobe, medial basal segment 21. Longissimus m. 22. Right lung, middle lobe, medial segment and right vagus, esophageal plexus 23. Trapezius m. and azygos v. 24. Vertebra, T1 0 25. Denticulate ligament and spinal cord	26. Supraspinous ligament 27. Multifidus m. 28. Intervertebral articulation, T9/T10 29. Costovertebral articulation 30. Lymphatic and blood vessels, autonomic nerves, and thoracic aorta 31. Rib 10 32. Lung, left lower lobe, anterior medial basal segment 33. Lung, left lower lobe, posterior basal segment, and pleural cavity 34. Rib 9 35. Esophagus 36. Intercostal mm. 37. Lung, left lower lobe, lateral basal segment, and rib 8 38. Lung, left upper lobe, lower division, superior segment	39. Central tendon of diaphragm 40. Liver, left lobe (appendix fibrosa hepatic) (var.) 41. Lung, left lower lobe, lower division (lingular), inferior segment, and diaphragm 42. Lung, left lower lobe, anterior medial basal segment, and oblique fissure 43. Lung, left upper lobe, lower division (lingular), inferior segment 44. Liver, left lobe, and vagus, left (esophageal plexus) 45. Pericardial cavity 46. Heart, left ventricle 47. Heart, apex 48. Heart, right ventricle 49. Central tendon of diaphragm 50. Xiphoid process (first appearance)

This section passes through the tenth thoracic vertebra (24), its costovertebral articulation (29), and the intervertebral articulation, T9/10 (28). It cuts ribs 10 (31), 9 (34), 8 (37), 7 (12), 6 (8), and 5 (5) and the sixth (3) and seventh (1) costal cartilages. Note that the costocartilage does not articulate with the sternum (xiphoid process) at this level. The section passes through the right and left domes of the diaphragm, penetrating more deeply on the right side. The cut edges of the diaphragm (9, 41), and portions of the right (13) and left (40) lobes of the liver can be seen. The left lobe of the liver, in this subject, is a large persistent remnant of development that terminates near the spleen as a fibrous band (appendix fibrosa hepatic). This is called a "beaver tailed" liver.

The middle mediastinum contains the heart, including the right ventricle (48), apex (47), left ventricle (46), pericardial cavity (45), and middle mediastinal fat (1).

On the left side, the following left lung bronchopulmonary segments can be seen: left upper lobe, lower division (lingular), inferior (43); left lower lobe, anterior medial basal (42); left lower lobe, lower division (lingular), inferior (41); left upper lobe, lower division, superior segment (38); left lower lobe, lateral basal (37), left lower lobe, posterior basal (33); and left lower lobe, anterior medial basal (32).

The posterior mediastinum contains the esophagus (35) anteriorly and the thoracic aorta (30) posteriorly, flanked by the azygos vein (23) on the right and small lymphatic and blood vessels and elements of the autonomic nervous system (30) on the left.

On the right side, the bronchopulmonary segments of the right lung include the right middle lobe, medial (22); right lower lobe, medial basal (20); right lower lobe, posterior basal (19); right lower lobe, lateral basal (18); right lower lobe, anterior basal (14); right middle lobe, lateral (7); and right middle lobe, medial (5).

The thorax, middle portion, ends with this cut.

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