thoracic wall

thoracic wall

n.

See chest wall.

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thoracic wall,

the musculoskeletal wall of the thorax, consisting of the 12 thoracic vertebrae, the ribs, and the sternum, as well as the intercostals muscles, the subcostales, and the transversus thoracis.

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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.