Thoracic outlet

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Thoracic outlet
Identifiers
TA98 A02.3.04.004
TA2 1099
FMA 7567
Anatomical terminology

The thoracic outlet or inferior thoracic aperture is the space between the first rib and the collarbone. [1] The thoracic outlet is the space where the nerves and blood vessels enter the arms. [2]

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Thoracic cavity Chamber of the body of vertebrates that is protected by the rib cage

The thoracic cavity is the chamber of the body of vertebrates that is protected by the thoracic wall. The central compartment of the thoracic cavity is the mediastinum. There are two openings of the thoracic cavity, a superior thoracic aperture known as the thoracic inlet and a lower inferior thoracic aperture known as the thoracic outlet.

Subclavian artery Major arteries of the upper thorax, below the clavicle

In human anatomy, the subclavian arteries are paired major arteries of the upper thorax, below the clavicle. They receive blood from the aortic arch. The left subclavian artery supplies blood to the left arm and the right subclavian artery supplies blood to the right arm, with some branches supplying the head and thorax. On the left side of the body, the subclavian comes directly off the aortic arch, while on the right side it arises from the relatively short brachiocephalic artery when it bifurcates into the subclavian and the right common carotid artery.

Thoracic outlet syndrome Medical condition

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Pancoast tumor Medical condition

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Adsons sign Medical condition

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Subclavian vein Blood vessel that drains the arm

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Chylothorax Medical condition

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Thoracic inlet

The thoracic inlet, also known as the superior thoracic aperture, refers to the opening at the top of the thoracic cavity. It is also clinically referred to as the thoracic outlet, in the case of thoracic outlet syndrome; this refers to the superior thoracic aperture, and not to the lower, larger opening, the inferior thoracic aperture.

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Paget–Schroetter disease Medical condition

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Subclavian steal syndrome Medical condition

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Cervical rib Medical condition

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Wright's maneuver is a clinical sign in which the radial pulse weakens or disappears when the arm is abducted and externally rotated. It occurs in some patients with thoracic outlet syndrome.

Nerve compression syndrome Human disease

Nerve compression syndrome, or compression neuropathy, is a medical condition caused by direct pressure on a nerve. It is known colloquially as a trapped nerve, though this may also refer to nerve root compression. Its symptoms include pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness. The symptoms affect just one particular part of the body, depending on which nerve is affected. Nerve conduction studies help to confirm the diagnosis. In some cases, surgery may help to relieve the pressure on the nerve but this does not always relieve all the symptoms. Nerve injury by a single episode of physical trauma is in one sense a compression neuropathy but is not usually included under this heading.

Asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia Medical condition

Asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia (ATD), also known as Jeune syndrome, is a rare inherited bone growth disorder that primarily affects the thoracic region. It was first described in 1955 by the French pediatrician Mathis Jeune. Common signs and symptoms can include a narrow chest, short ribs, shortened bones in the arms and legs, short stature, and extra fingers and toes (polydactyly). The restricted growth and expansion of the lungs caused by this disorder results in life-threatening breathing difficulties; occurring in 1 in every 100,000-130,000 live births in the United States.

First rib resection is a surgical procedure used in humans to treat thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and Paget–Schroetter disease. It involves the surgical removal of a segment of the first rib, which is the rib closest to the head, under the collar bone.

Cody Sedlock American baseball player

Cody Austin Sedlock is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Detroit Tigers organization. He made his MLB debut in 2022 for the Baltimore Orioles.

References

  1. "Thoracic outlet syndrome - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. Sencen, Lisa. "Thoracic Outlet Syndrome". NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders).