Superior thoracic aperture

Superior thoracic aperture
The thorax from in front. (Superior thoracic aperture visible at top.)
Superior thoracic aperture seen from above
Details
Identifiers
Latin	apertura thoracis superior
TA98	A02.3.04.003
TA2	1098
FMA	7566
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The superior thoracic aperture, also known as the thoracic outlet, or thoracic inlet refers to the opening at the top of the thoracic cavity.^[1] It is also clinically referred to as the thoracic outlet, in the case of thoracic outlet syndrome. A lower thoracic opening is the inferior thoracic aperture.

Structure

The superior thoracic aperture is essentially a hole surrounded by a bony ring, through which several vital structures pass. It is bounded by: the first thoracic vertebra (T1) posteriorly; the first pair of ribs laterally, forming lateral C-shaped curves posterior to anterior; and the costal cartilage of the first rib and the superior border of the manubrium anteriorly.

Dimensions

The adult thoracic outlet is around 6.5 cm antero-posteriorly and 11 cm transversely. Because of the obliquity of the first pair of ribs, the aperture slopes antero-inferiorly.

Relations

The

.

Function

Structures that pass through the thoracic inlet include:

• trachea
• oesophagus
• thoracic duct
• apices of the lungs
• nerves
  • phrenic nerve
  • vagus nerve
  • recurrent laryngeal nerves
  • sympathetic trunks
• vessels
  • arteries
    • left and right common carotid arteries
    • left subclavian arteries
  • veins
    • internal jugular veins
    • brachiocephalic veins
    • subclavian veins
• lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels

This is not an exhaustive list. There are several other minor, but important, vessels and nerves passing through, and an abnormally large thyroid gland may extend inferiorly through the thoracic inlet into the superior mediastinum.

The oesophagus lies against the body of the T1 vertebra, separated from it by the

lie to either side of the oesophagus and trachea, and is separated from them by the other vessels and nerves listed above. Furthermore, they extend slightly superior past the level of the inlet (e.g. the horizontal plane of the first rib).

Additional images

• 
  Vasculature entering at top. (Note: internal mammary is now known as internal thoracic artery.)

References

• McMinn, RMH (Ed) (1994) Last's Anatomy: Regional and applied (9th Ed). London: Churchill Livingstone.
  ISBN 0-443-04662-X
• Moore Clinically Oriented Anatomy: Moore, Dalley, Agur - South Asian Edition (7th Ed.): Wolters Kluwer (India) Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
  ISBN 978-81-8473-912-1