The chest is part of the external respiratory apparatus. It performs a supporting, motor, protective function.
Rib cage. Structure
This area is represented by a structure having a bone-cartilaginous skeleton. Here pass the lymphatic and blood vessels, the corresponding muscles of the skeleton, other soft tissues, nerve fibers.
The bone-cartilaginous skeleton consists of twelve thoracic vertebrae, twelve costal pairs and sternum. They are interconnected by means of various types of compounds.
In the cavity of the structure are internal organs: lungs, lower respiratory tract, esophagus, heart and others.
The chest is presented in the form of an irregular cone, the top of which is cut off. Four walls are defined in it. The anterior is formed by the costal cartilage and sternum, the posterior - by the posterior edges of the ribs and thoracic vertebrae. Lateral (lateral) walls are formed by ribs that are separated by intercostal spaces (intercostal spaces).
The chest has an upper aperture (opening) bounded by the first thoracic vertebra, the upper end of the sternum handle with the jugular notch on it and the inner ends of the first ribs. The hole is tilted forward. The front edge of the aperture is lowered down in the direction of the ribs. Thus, the jugular notch in the sternum is located between the second and third thoracic vertebrae at the level of the intervertebral disc.
Blood vessels, esophagus, nerve fibers, trachea pass through the upper hole.
The lower opening is limited by the body of the twelfth thoracic vertebra in the back, the sternal xiphoid process in front and the lower ribs on the sides. Its size significantly exceeds the size of the upper aperture.
The connection of the seventh to tenth costal pair forms an anterolateral edge (costal arch). The left and right costal arches laterally limit the sternal angle open downward. At its apex, located at the level of the ninth thoracic vertebra, is the xiphoid process.
The diaphragm, having an opening for the passage of the esophagus, aorta, inferior vein, closes the lower aperture.
From the thoracic vertebrae, pulmonary grooves are located on the sides. They are adjacent to the walls of the chest rear sections of the lungs.
Flexible rib arches give elasticity and greater strength to the entire structure.
The chest can have a different shape and size.
The movement of the entire structure is determined by the processes of exhalation and inhalation (respiratory movements). Due to the fact that the front ends of the ribs are connected to the sternum, the inhalation is accompanied by the movement of both the sternum and the ribs. Their raising leads to an increase in the anteroposterior (sagittal) and transverse sizes of the cell, the expansion of the intercostal spaces (intercostal spaces). All these factors explain the increase in the volume of the cavity.
The exhalation is accompanied by the omission of the sternum and the ends of the ribs, a significant decrease in the anteroposterior size, narrowing of the intercostal spaces. All this leads to a decrease in the volume of the cavity.
Chest deformity
This phenomenon is often found in children. The most common are two types of deformation: funnel-shaped and chicken breast.
In the first case, the condition is due to abnormal retraction of the sternum inward. Chicken breast is when the chest protrudes. It should be noted that this type of deformation is detected in practice quite rarely.
Anomalies in the structure, of course, affect the state of health of the child. With a protruding chest, emphysema often develops (chronic lung disease, manifested by a violation in breathing).
As practice shows, in most cases with this type of deformity, surgical intervention is necessary.