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    The thorax is the region of the body commonly known as the chest between the neck and the abdomen. The thoracic cavity is the hollow in the thorax that is occupied by the thoracic viscera, the heart and its associated vessels in the midline, and the lungs laterally. The thoracic viscera are enclosed by the bony and muscular thoracic cage. The bony components of the cage are the 12 thoracic vertebrae posteriorly, the 12 pairs of ribs and their anterior cartilaginous extensions, the costal cartilages that meet the sternum anteriorly. The intercostal muscles fill the intercostal spaces between the ribs and are involved in ventilation. Another muscle involved in ventilation is the diaphragm, a sheet of muscle that separates the thoracic from the abdominal cavity. If you are not familiar with the basic outline and arrangements of the circulatory and respiratory systems, refer back to Chapters 4 and 5 before reading this section. A good way to appreciate where these structures lie in relation to each other is to examine their surface anatomy, the position of internal organs related to features that can be observed or palpated (felt) on the surface of the body. Relating surface anatomy to deeper structures is a clinical skill essential not only to the study of the thorax, but also of structures in the head and neck important in dental practice. In the clinical examination of the living subject, the position of the internal thoracic organs is defined with reference to a set of vertical and horizontal lines running through the surface of bony landmarks. The significant vertical lines are shown in Figure 9 .1 as the: 1. Mid-sternal line—in the median plane anteriorly; 2. Mid-clavicular line—through the midpoint of the clavicle; 3. Mid-axillary line—midway between the anterior and posterior axillary folds, formed from skin overlying muscles. If you raise your arm while looking into a mirror, the two folds are obvious; they can also be palpated very easily even with clothes on. 4. Median posterior line—in the median plane anteriorly. The horizontal position can be defined with reference to the ribs or, less easily, the vertebrae.
    Thorax (insect anatomy)
    Sternum
    Thoracic cavity
    Diaphragm (acoustics)
    Surface anatomy
    Shoulder girdle
    Thoracic wall
    Muscles of respiration
    Intercostal space
    Gross anatomy
    The coordination of axial thorax and pelvis rotations during gait has been shown to be affected by several pathologies. This has been interpreted as an indication of increased apparent axial trunk stiffness, but arm swing may also affect these rotations. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of trunk stiffness and arm swing on the relative timing ('coordination') between thorax and pelvis rotations, and to assess if apparent trunk stiffness can be inferred from thorax-pelvis kinematics. A forward dynamic model was constructed to estimate apparent trunk stiffness from observed thorax and pelvis rotations and arm swing moment around the longitudinal axis of the trunk of 30 subjects. The effect of independent manipulations of trunk stiffness and arm swing moment on thorax-pelvis coordination and gain of axial thorax-pelvis rotations were assessed using the same forward dynamic model. A linear regression model was constructed to evaluate whether forward dynamic model-based estimates of axial trunk stiffness could be inferred directly from thorax-pelvis rotations. The forward dynamic model revealed that axial trunk stiffness and arm swing moment have opposite effects on axial thorax-pelvis coordination. Apparent axial trunk stiffness could not be predicted from observed thorax-pelvis rotations.
    Thorax (insect anatomy)
    Objective: The SARS-CoV2 infection is associated with high mortality for individuals who undergo emergency surgery. The United Kingdom surgical associations and Colleges of Surgeons collectively recommended the addition of CT Thorax to all emergency CT abdomen/pelvis imaging in order to help identify possible COVID-19 patients. Early identification of these patients would lead to optimal treatment strategies for the patient and protection for staff members. However, an extension of CT would be associated with increased irradiation doses for the patient, and its diagnostic relevance was unclear. Methods: This was a retrospective observational review looking at all surgical admissions that required a CT Thorax/Abdomen/Pelvis across 7 weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic, across four Scottish Hospitals. CT thorax investigations (of non-surgical patients) were also re-assessed by a single radiologist to assess the extent of pathology identified at the lung bases (and therefore would be included in a standard CT abdomen and pelvis). Results: Of 216 patients identified who had a CT thorax/Abdomen/Pelvis during the timeframe, 5 were diagnosed with COVID-19. During this timeframe, 77 patients underwent solely CT thorax. Across the entire cohort, 98% of COVID pathology was identified at the lung bases. The estimated sensitivity and specificity of CT thorax was 60 and 86.4% respectively. Conclusions: In a region with relatively low prevalence of SARS-COV2 infection, inclusion of CT Thorax in surgical admission imaging does not significantly contribute to identification and management of SARS-COV2 patients. We therefore suggest that imaging the lung bases can be sufficient to raise clinical suspicion of COVID-19. Advances in knowledge: This paper adds further evidence to that from other single UK centres that the addition of CT chest for all patients does not yield any further diagnostic information regarding coronavirus. Additionally, rapid SARS-CoV-2 testing in the UK (which is currently widely available) further demonstrates that inclusion of the entire chest during CT examination of the acute abdomen is not required.
    Thorax (insect anatomy)
    Citations (1)
    Given that males and females respond differently to endurance-based tasks, prolonged putting practice may provide an avenue to examine gender-related differences in golf swing kinematics. The aim of this project was to determine if 40 min of putting affects thorax and pelvis kinematics during the full swing of males and females. Three-dimensional trunk kinematics were collected during the swings of 19 male (age: 26 ± 7 years, handicap: 0.6 ± 1.1) and 17 female (age: 24 ± 7 years, handicap: 1.4 ± 1.7) golfers before and after 40 min of putting. Angular displacement at address, top of backswing and ball contact for the pelvis, thorax, and pelvis–thorax interaction were calculated, in addition to the magnitude of peak angular velocity and repeatability of continuous segment angular velocities. Female golfers had less pelvis and thorax anterior–posterior tilt at address, less thorax and thorax–pelvis axial rotation at top of backswing, and less pelvis and thorax axial rotation and pelvis lateral tilt at ball contact pre- to post-putting. Analysis of peak angular velocities revealed that females had significantly lower thorax–pelvis lateral tilt velocity pre- to post-putting. In conclusion, an endurance-based putting intervention affects females' thorax and pelvis orientation angles and velocities to a greater extent than males.
    Thorax (insect anatomy)
    The purpose of this study was to investigate the interrelationship between the thorax and pelvis during coupled movement patterns. Fifty-seven participants were assessed using an infrared motion analysis system to track trunk movement during maximal pelvis and thorax rotations over four trunk inclinations and two pelvic constraint conditions. A repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance investigated the effects of forward trunk inclination and pelvic constraint on thorax and pelvic rotation. Forward trunk inclination from neutral to 45° resulted in a 46% (p < 0.001) decrease in axial pelvic rotation and a 15% (p < 0.001) decrease in axial thorax rotation with an unconstrained pelvis. A constrained pelvis resulted in a 15% (p < 0.001) decrease in axial thorax rotation. An externally constrained pelvis allowed the thorax to achieve an average of 18° (SD = 2°) greater rotational range of motion across all angles. This study reinforced the importance of allowing the pelvis to rotate during whole body axial rotation tasks.Results indicated that maximum axial trunk rotation is best achieved in a neutral posture, when the pelvis is allowed to contribute and flexion at the hips should be minimised. For example, if a recumbent task requires rotation of the torso, then the chair seat should be allowed to swivel.
    Thorax (insect anatomy)
    Torso