Intercostal space

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Intercostal space
Intercostal spaces, viewed from the left.
Sternocostal and interchondral articulations. Anterior view.
Latin spatium intercostale
Gray's subject #28 123
Dorlands/Elsevier s_16/12746516

The intercostal space is the space between two ribs (Lat. costa). Since there are 12 ribs on each side, there are 11 intercostal spaces.

Contents

Because the chest is protected by the rib cage, the intercostal spaces are important access points in medicine, for example:

Comprehensive insight in the anatomy of the intercostal spaces is mandatory for everyone who practices medicine. One particular concept is that the neurovascular bundle has a strict order: V-A-N, or vein-artery-nerve, from top to bottom (as illustrated). This neurovascular bundle runs high in the intercostal space: therefore, the intercostal space should be penetrated as low as possible by invasive procedures.

In reference to the muscles of the thoracic wall, the intercostal nerves and vessels run just behind the internal intercostal muscles: therefore, they are generally covered on the inside by the parietal pleura, except when they are covered by the innermost intercostal muscles, subcostal muscles or the transversus thoracis muscle.

v • d • e
General anatomy of torso
Thorax/
Thoracic cavity		 Mediastinum (Superior, Anterior, Middle, Posterior) • Superior thoracic aperture • Inferior thoracic aperture • Triangle of auscultation • Intercostal space • Thoracic plane • Thoracic wall/Thoracic cage - fascia (Pectoral fascia, Clavipectoral fascia, Thoracolumbar fascia) • Chest • Midsternal line
Thoracic diaphragm openings (Caval opening, Esophageal hiatus, Aortic hiatus, Foramina of Morgagni) • Central tendon • Crus of diaphragm • arcuate ligaments (Lateral, Medial, Median)
Abdomen/
Abdominal cavity		 Retroperitoneum • Paracolic gutters • Hepatobiliary triangle

anterior abdominal wall (Arcuate line, Linea alba, Tendinous intersection, Linea semilunaris, McBurney's point, Traube's space, Inguinal triangle) • Inguinal canal (Deep inguinal ring, Superficial inguinal ring, Intercrural fibers, Crura of superficial inguinal ring) • Lumbar triangle • regions (Epigastrium, Hypochondrium, Umbilical region, Latus, Hypogastrium, Inguinal region) • planes (Transpyloric plane, Intertubercular plane, Midclavicular line)

fascia (Fascia of Camper, Fascia of Scarpa, Transversalis fascia, Renal fascia, Rectus sheath)
Pelvis/
Pelvic cavity		 Pelvic floor • Retropubic space
fascia (Pelvic fascia, Superior fascia of diaphragm of pelvis, Inferior fascia of diaphragm of pelvis, Fascia of the Obturator internus, Tendinous arch, Iliac fascia)
Perineum Anal triangle (Ischioanal fossa, Pudendal canal, Anococcygeal raphe)

Urogenital triangle (Superficial perineal pouch, Deep perineal pouch)

Perineal body

fascia (Dartos/fascia of perineum/superficial perineal fascia/Fascia of Colles, Perineal membrane/"Inferior fascia of UGD", "Superior fascia of UGD")
 This anatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercostal_space"
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