MEDRADSC 2H03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Suprasternal Notch, Thoracic Vertebrae, Thoracic Cavity

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Medical Radiation Sciences
• Course: MEDRADSC 2H03
• Professor: Alana Trainor

Document Summary

Impossible to see in a true ap or pa projection. Need to project slightly off of midline. Rotation needs to be shallow bc the heart is more of a midline structure (slightly to the left) The degree of the obliquity depends on the size of the thoracic cavity: shallow/thin chest requires more rotation (20 degrees) large/barrel chest requires less rotation (15 degrees) Cr perpendicular to centre of sternum, 1 inch to the left of midline; midway b/n jugular notch & xiphoid (midsternum) (never palpate the xiphoid) Breathing technique to blur out the ribs (specifically the posterior ribs) Sternum is clear of spine (not si on spine) Continued respiration may give blurring of posterior ribs. See costocartilage of the anterior ribs & sternum. Standing in lateral position side against bucky. Long axis of sternum aligned w midline of bucky. Top of ir 1. 5 inches above notch. Cr perpendicular, cp midsternum; at the mid-pectoralis muscle (not midline)