Thoracic Circulation
Thoracic Circulation - Related Videos
06:57
Transaxillary First Rib Resection for Treatment of the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
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Cited by 3 •
2020
Here, we present a protocol of the transaxillary resection of the first rib for treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome caused by compression of the brachial plexus, subclavian vein and artery.
01:15
Thoracic Aorta
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2024
The thoracic section of the aorta begins at the T5 vertebra and extends to the T12 level at the diaphragm, initially progressing through the mediastinum to the left of the spinal column. Throughout its course in the thoracic segment, the thoracic aorta emits various offshoots known collectively as visceral and parietal branches. The branches that predominantly supply blood to visceral organs are termed visceral branches and include bronchial, pericardial, esophageal, and mediastinal arteries,...
06:19
Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Colorectal Cancer
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Cited by 13 •
2017
We describe the establishment of orthotopic colorectal tumors via injection of tumor cells or organoids into the cecum of mice and the subsequent isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from this model.
01:17
The Thoracic Cage: Sternum
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2023
The thoracic or rib cage forms the body's thorax (chest) portion. Its primary function in the body is to protect vital organs in the thoracic cavity, such as the heart and the lungs. It consists of 12 pairs of ribs with their costal cartilages and the sternum. The ribs are anchored posteriorly to the 12 thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12). The sternum is the elongated bony structure on the anterior side of the thoracic cage. It consists of three parts: the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid process.
01:20
The Thoracic Cage: Ribs
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2025
Ribs are curved, flattened bones forming the thoracic cavity wall with the thoracic muscles. There are 12 pairs of thoracic ribs. The posterior ends of all the ribs articulate with the T1–T12 thoracic vertebrae. In contrast,the anterior ends of most ribs attach to the sternum via their costal cartilages. Parts of a Typical Rib A typical rib has a head, neck, and body. The posterior end of the rib is called the head, followed by a narrow neck. The head articulates primarily with the costal facet...
FAQs
The sequence keeps pulmonary and systemic routes connected but functionally distinct: the right heart directs oxygen-poor blood toward the lungs, whereas the left heart receives oxygenated blood and propels it into the aorta. This arrangement prevents the gas-exchange route from being confused with distribution to the body and provides a framework for tracing blood through thoracic anatomy.
Gas exchange changes blood composition at the lungs: carbon dioxide leaves the blood by diffusion, while oxygen enters it. That change explains why blood returning from the lungs can support delivery to tissues after the left side of the heart pumps it through the aorta. In biology, the circulation therefore links respiratory exchange directly to whole-body oxygen supply.
Coronary vessels serve a separate but essential role within thoracic circulation by supplying the heart muscle itself. Their function should be considered alongside, not substituted for, the movement of blood between the heart, lungs, and body. This distinction helps learners analyze the heart both as a pump and as living tissue that requires its own blood supply.
Tracing the route step by step helps relate blood-pressure changes to the chambers and major vessels involved. A learner can identify whether a change is being considered near the right heart and pulmonary arteries or near the left heart and aorta. This anatomical mapping supports clearer interpretation of cardiovascular measurements without treating pressure as separate from blood flow.
Clinical imaging provides a way to investigate the arrangement and function of structures involved in thoracic circulation. By relating visible heart and major-vessel anatomy to the path of blood through the lungs, imaging can support interpretation of cardiopulmonary function. Its value lies in connecting anatomical observations with the coordinated circulation that students and researchers are evaluating.
A pulmonary embolism is considered in relation to the pulmonary route, whereas coronary artery disease is considered in relation to the vessels supplying the heart muscle. Using thoracic circulation as an anatomical framework helps separate these clinical contexts by location and function. This distinction supports more organized interpretation of disorders affecting cardiopulmonary circulation.
Thoracic circulation provides an integrated framework for studying how heart activity, pulmonary gas exchange, and blood distribution work together. Research on cardiopulmonary function can use this framework to connect changes in circulation with oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide removal. Clinical imaging further supports investigation by relating cardiovascular anatomy to the functioning system within the chest.