--- title: Know Your Thoracic Anatomy! description: A thorough understanding of thoracic anatomy is fundamental to correcting respiratory insufficiency. image: https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/Blog/rsz_gettyimages-530196490.jpg --- [![dark-header.jpg](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hub/212347/file-1107077240.jpg?width=940&name=file-1107077240.jpg "dark-header.jpg")](https://www.sscor.com/) ## **Thank you for visiting the SSCOR Blog.** Whether you're in a Hospital or EMS setting, this is the place for you. We'll share information on current industry news, tips, as well as the latest and greatest in SSCOR products. Our hope is that this blog is not only informative but a collaborative and open forum for you to share your thoughts on developing opportunities and challenges within your profession. Subscribe. Share your thoughts. Enjoy. -SSCOR Team   # [Know Your Thoracic Anatomy!](https://blog.sscor.com/know-your-thoracic-anatomy) Posted by [Sam D. Say](https://blog.sscor.com/author/sam-d-say) Feb 26, 2018 4:30:00 AM 4 min read - [![LinkedIn Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2628248555-png/images/icons/linkedin-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/know-your-thoracic-anatomy#) 0 - [![Facebook Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2623658044-png/images/icons/fb-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/know-your-thoracic-anatomy#) 0 ![rsz_gettyimages-530196490.jpg](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/Blog/rsz_gettyimages-530196490.jpg) Respiratory emergencies are some of the most critical calls to which you will respond. If the airway is impeded or the patient is unable to exchange oxygen, you could be heading straight toward respiratory arrest. Your job is to prevent the arrest and ensure a patent airway with good air exchange—which is why a thorough understanding of thoracic anatomy is fundamental to correcting respiratory insufficiency. ## Airway Anatomy The structures that make up the airway system are typically broken down into upper and lower. These include: ### Upper Airway 1. Nose 2. Mouth 3. Pharynx 4. Nasopharynx 5. Oropharynx 6. Hypopharynx 7. Larynx ### Lower Airway 1. Trachea 2. Lungs 3. Bronchi 4. Bronchioles 5. Alveoli Knowing the dimensions and locations of these structures is imperative to managing the airway. Intubation, surgical cricothyrotomy, and pleural decompression can only be performed safely if you know exactly where these structures reside within the body. ## Respiration Basics Gas exchange within the body takes place through five actions within the respiratory system: - Ventilation: movement of air into and out of the lungs - Distribution: delivery of air into the lungs, where gas exchange takes place - Diffusion: tissues within the lungs engage in gas exchange - Perfusion: blood flow through the pulmonary vasculature allows diffusion - Circulation: the heart distributes blood throughout the body so that cellular processes can take place At rest, the muscles that support ventilation (scalenes, pectoralis minor, serratus anterior, external intercostals, and the diaphragm) are relaxed. Upon inhalation, the diaphragm retracts downward, while the rest of the muscle assemblage expands the chest upward and out, creating negative pressure within the chest to draw air in. During exhalation, the diaphragm and musculature relax, forcing air out of the lungs, while the transversus thoracis, internal intercostals, and rectus abdominis return the ribs and sternum to their at-rest posture.   ---   [![Everything you need to know to help your institution make the right portable suction purchase >](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/39cebfb1-10c2-4e66-931f-59bfe9afabe9.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/39cebfb1-10c2-4e66-931f-59bfe9afabe9)   --- ## Assessing the Chest Gauging the respiratory function of your patient is one of the most important steps in your patient assessment. You must conduct a thorough assessment of the chest to ensure your patient is moving adequate amounts of air and oxygenating their tissues. Here are a few reminders: - Is the patient in obvious distress? - Are they conscious and alert? - What is the respiratory rate? - Is breathing labored? - Is the respiratory pattern normal or abnormal? - What is the respiratory depth? - Are there abnormal breath sounds? - Is chest rise equal or unequal? - Is there crepitus? (Suspected in the case of rib fractures.) - Palpate for subcutaneous emphysema. A thorough assessment will help you zero in on the underlying insufficiency. ## Signs and Symptoms of Thoracic Trauma Trauma to the chest can not only compromise ventilation, but it can also prevent gas exchange in the lungs. Traumatic injuries to the chest include: - Flail chest: multiple ribs fractured in two or more places - Hemothorax: bleeding into the chest cavity - Cardiac tamponade: bleeding into the pericardial sac - Tension pneumothorax: build-up of pressure within the chest, causing a shift of the mediastinum to the unaffected side - Aortic disruption: tearing or rupture of the aorta Maintain a high index of suspicion for thoracic trauma if any of the following are observed: - Crepitus - Bruising - Swelling - Deformity - Impalement (stabilize in place) - Muffled heart tones - Abnormal breath sounds (crackles, wheezing) - Absent breath sounds - Asymmetrical chest rise - Subcutaneous emphysema A thorough understanding of thoracic anatomy will enable you to identify, treat, and correct life-threatening conditions involving the chest. 2011, Pollak, A., Ed. Critical Care Transport, American College of Emergency Physicians, Jones and Bartlett.   [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/9612b368-68bd-40fd-8df2-b49e908313ab.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/9612b368-68bd-40fd-8df2-b49e908313ab) ![Author Photo](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SDS2-648378-edited.jpg?width=70&name=SDS2-648378-edited.jpg) ## AboutSam D. Say Sam D. Say is owner and CEO of SSCOR, Inc., a medical device manufacturer specializing in emergency battery operated portable suction devices for the hospital and pre-hospital settings. Mr. Say has been involved in developing product for healthcare providers for over 35 years. His passions include contributing to the management of the patient airway and providing solutions that save lives in difficult conditions. Search #### Most Popular Articles ### Post by Topic - [Medical Suction (103)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-suction) - [Airway management (102)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/airway-management) - [Emergency Preparedness (92)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emergency-preparedness) - [Emergency medical suction (73)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emergency-medical-suction) - [Portable suction for hospitals (34)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/portable-suction-for-hospitals) - [EMS suction (27)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ems-suction) - [Handheld portable suction (26)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/handheld-portable-suction) - [Suction for EMS professionals (24)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/suction-for-ems-professionals) - [Respiratory (19)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/respiratory) - [medical scenarios (17)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-scenarios) - [portable suction (16)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/portable-suction) - [Battery-powered suction (15)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/battery-powered-suction) - [EMS Professionals (15)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ems-professionals) - [airway obstruction (15)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/airway-obstruction) - [Hospital disaster preparation (14)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/hospital-disaster-preparation) - [respiratory assessment (13)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/respiratory-assessment) - [Intubation (10)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/intubation) - [Pediatric Suction (10)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/pediatric-suction) - [Medical Suction for Dental (9)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-suction-for-dental) - [Tactical trauma kit (7)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/tactical-trauma-kit) - [Crash Cart Supplies (6)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/crash-cart-supplies) - [Trauma (6)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/trauma) - [emt scenarios (6)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emt-scenarios) - [Diseases & Infections (5)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/diseases-infections) - [aspiration pneumonia (5)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/aspiration-pneumonia) - [Aspiration (4)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/aspiration) - [Patient Transport (4)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/patient-transport) - [ambulance safety (4)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/ambulance-safety) - [Anaphylaxis (3)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/anaphylaxis) - [Suction Catheter (3)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/suction-catheter) - [nasotracheal intubation (3)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/nasotracheal-intubation) - [CDC (2)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/cdc) - [Medical Suction for Drowning (2)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-suction-for-drowning) - [Tactical medical bag (1)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/tactical-medical-bag) - [medical devices (1)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/medical-devices) - [rapid sequence intubation (1)](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/rapid-sequence-intubation) [see all](https://blog.sscor.com/know-your-thoracic-anatomy#) [![subscribe_to_sscor_blog](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/1209b5e9-2bd5-461c-9673-0f13ab98cab8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/1209b5e9-2bd5-461c-9673-0f13ab98cab8) [![Aspirator_test_kit_sscor_suction](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/09b997f8-6c33-450c-9e98-6ea0f907f383.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/09b997f8-6c33-450c-9e98-6ea0f907f383) [![determining_contents_of_first_in_bag_guide_for_paramedics](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/03d28100-2a96-4c68-93d1-3e06a3b91cad.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/03d28100-2a96-4c68-93d1-3e06a3b91cad) - [![DUET-B-Front-370px](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DUET-B-Front-370px.png "DUET-B-Front-370px")](https://www.sscor.com/duet_suction_unit_retention_bracket_portable_aspirator) - [![Duet Bracket Back with bracket](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DUETBB-back-370px.png "Duet Bracket Back with bracket")](https://www.sscor.com/duet_suction_unit_retention_bracket_portable_aspirator) - [![S-SCORT III Front](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/S-SCORT3-front-370px.png "S-SCORT III Front")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_iii_suction_unit) - [![S-SCORT-III3-control-panel](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/S-SCORT3-control-panel-370px.png "S-SCORT-III3-control-panel")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_iii_suction_unit) - [![VX2-B-font](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/VX2-B-font-370px.png "VX2-B-font")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_vx2_option_portable_ems_suction) - [![VX-2 Bracket Back with Bracket](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/VX2BB-Back-370px.png "VX-2 Bracket Back with Bracket")](https://www.sscor.com/s-scort_vx2_option_portable_ems_suction) - [![Quickdraw Front](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/Quickdraw-370px.png "Quickdraw Front")](https://www.sscor.com/quickdraw_portable_suction_unit) - [![DCELL-front-angle](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DCELL-front-angle-370px.png "DCELL-front-angle")](https://www.sscor.com/dcell_suction_hospital_aspirator) - [![DCELL-back](https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/DCELL-back-370px.png "DCELL-back")](https://www.sscor.com/dcell_suction_hospital_aspirator) ### Follow us on social media: ## SSCOR Clearing The Airway Is Our #1 Priority **Company** [SSCOR Website](https://www.sscor.com/index.html) [About Us](https://www.sscor.com/who_are_we.html) [Contact Us](https://www.sscor.com/sales_support.html)   **Resources** [FAQ](https://www.sscor.com/Frequently-Asked-Questions.html) [Technical Support](https://www.sscor.com/technical-product-support.html) **Updates** [Upcoming Events](https://www.sscor.com/upcoming_events.html) *All data and information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. SSCOR, Inc. makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.* Images and content of this blog are © 2023 SSCOR, Inc. All rights reserved.