thoracic limb

limb (lim)

1. member or extremity; one of the paired appendages of the body used in locomotion or grasping; in humans, an arm or leg with all its parts.

2. a structure or part resembling an arm or leg.

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anacrotic limb  ascending l. (2).

ascending limb 

1. the distal part of the loop of Henle.

2. anacrotic l.; the ascending portion of an arterial pulse tracing.

catacrotic limb  descending l. (2).

descending limb 

1. the proximal part of the loop of Henle.

2. catacrotic l.; the descending portion of an arterial pulse tracing.

lower limb  the limb of the body extending from the gluteal region to the foot; it is specialized for weight-bearing and locomotion. See also leg.

pectoral limb  thoracic l.

pelvic limb 

1. the leg, or a homologous part.

2. the limb attached to the pelvic girdle; the lower limb of a human or a homologous structure such as a hind limb on another animal.

phantom limb  the sensation, after amputation of a limb, that the absent part is still present; there may also be paresthesias, transient aches, and intermittent or continuous pain perceived as originating in the absent limb.

thoracic limb  the limb attached to the thoracic girdle; the upper limb of a human or a homologous structure (wing, foreleg, etc.) in another animal.

upper limb  the limb of the body extending from the deltoid region to the hand; it is specialized for functions such as grasping and manipulating. See also arm.

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thoracic limb

n.

See upper extremity.

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limb [lim]

1. one of the paired appendages of the body used in locomotion and grasping; see arm and leg. Called also member, membrum, and extremity.

2. a structure or part resembling an arm or leg.

anacrotic limb ascending limb (def. 2).

artificial limb a replacement for a missing limb; see also prosthesis.

ascending limb

1. the distal part of Henle's loop.

2. the ascending portion of an arterial pulse tracing; called also anacrotic limb.

catacrotic limb descending limb (def. 2).

descending limb

1. the proximal part of Henle's loop.

2. the descending portion of an arterial pulse tracing; called also catacrotic limb.

lower limb the limb of the body extending from the gluteal region to the foot; it is specialized for weight-bearing and locomotion. See also leg.

pectoral limb the arm (upper limb), or a homologous part.

pelvic limb the leg (lower limb), or a homologous part.

phantom limb the sensation, after amputation of a limb, that the absent part is still present; there may also be paresthesias, transient aches, and intermittent or continuous pain perceived as originating in the absent limb.

residual limb stump.

thoracic limb pectoral limb.

upper limb the limb of the body extending from the deltoid region to the hand; it is specialized for functions requiring great mobility, such as grasping and manipulating. See also arm.

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limb

1. one of the paired appendages of the body used in locomotion and grasping.

2. a structure or part resembling an arm.

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limb absence

may be an acquired characteristic, or a congenital defect caused by inheritance of a modifying factor, e.g. 'mole' calves, or the effect of an environmental noxious agent, e.g. beta-irradiation. Called also amputates.

anacrotic limb

the ascending portion of an arterial pulse tracing.

catacrotic limb

the descending portion of an arterial pulse tracing.

limb curvature

medially or laterally as in rickets, Trachymene spp. poisoning.

limb deformity

abnormal size, shape, position or composition of a limb, which may be congenital and inherited or an acquired defect.

limb drag

the limb is insufficiently flexed and the toe is dragged; indicates weakness or paresis.

limb-hoof conformation

the contours, angulation and relative size of the component parts of a limb, all of which are vital to a long and troublefree life of locomotion, the principal function of agricultural animals.

limb mange

see chorioptic mange.

pectoral limb

the frontlimb.

pelvic limb

the hindlimb.

limb sparing

an alternative to amputation in the treatment of large neoplastic lesions, most commonly osteosarcoma. Called also limb salvage.

thoracic limb

pectoral limb.

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thoracic

pertaining to the chest. See also thoracolumbar.

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thoracic asymmetry

if obviously distorted can mean that the flatter side has a collapsed lung. Not a helpful sign in cattle because of the normal asymmetry caused by the rumen.

thoracic breath sounds

breath sounds produced in the bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli by the passage of air; contrast with tracheal breath sounds.

thoracic cage

the bony structure enclosing the thorax, consisting of the ribs, vertebral column and sternum.

thoracic cavity

see thorax; called also chest.

thoracic duct ligation

a surgical procedure used in the treatment of chylothorax where medical management is unsuccessful.

thoracic girdle

the incomplete ring of bones that support the thoracic limb, made up of the scapula, clavicle, coracoid and occasionally other elements. Mammals have no coracoids (except in monotremes) and nongrasping animals have no clavicle so that the girdle consists only of the scapula. Grasping or climbing animals have a clavicle. Birds have a complete bony girdle. Called also pectoral girdle.

thoracic inlet

the entrance of the chest between the two first ribs, the manubrium, and the first thoracic vertebra.

thoracic limb

forelimb.

thoracic pain

such as that caused by broken ribs, torn intercostal muscles, pleurisy can cause a grunt at the end of each inspiration.

thoracic peristaltic sounds

can be of assistance in diagnosing diaphragmatic hernia in a dog or cat but they occur commonly in normal horses and cattle.

thoracic positioner

a sterilizable M-shaped metal trough which can be laid on an operating table and an animal propped up in it for surgery.

thoracic respiration

the diaphragm and abdominal muscles remain immobilized and play little part in respiration, as in peritonitis with diaphragmatic hernia.

thoracic segmental spinal cord degeneration

characteristic lesion in the inherited disease merino degenerative axonopathy.

thoracic surgery

surgical procedures involving entrance into the chest cavity. Until techniques for endotracheal anesthesia were perfected, this type of surgery was extremely dangerous because of the possibility of lung collapse. By administering anesthesia under pressure through an endotracheal tube it is now possible to keep one or both lungs expanded, even when they are subjected to atmospheric pressure.

thoracic symmetry

lack of symmetry between the two sides, viewed from above, can suggest lung collapse or a space-occupying lesion on the smaller side; in ruminants the presence of the rumen always enhances the size of the left side.

thoracic tube

see chest tube.

thoracic vertebrae

the vertebrae between the cervical and lumbar vertebrae, giving attachment to the ribs and forming part of the dorsal wall of the thorax.

thoracic wall

includes the ribs, sternum and thoracic vertebrae, the intercostal, superficial and deep, muscles, and the external respiratory muscles (transverse thoracic, rectus thoracic, serratus dorsalis and scalenus), and the costal pleura.

thoracic wall flap

a surgical approach to the thoracic cavity that combines an intercostal incision and sternotomy. It allows great exposure to structures of the cranial mediastinum and caudal cervical region.

thoracic wall wound

penetration through to the pleural cavity results in pneumothorax and collapse of the lung on that side.