Thoracic plane
Last revised by Craig Hacking on 27 Mar 2018
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Hacking C, Burlak K, et al. Thoracic plane. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 07 Dec 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-22288
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rID:
22288
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresLast revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosuresRevisions:
12 times, by 6 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Transverse thoracic plane
- Transthoracic plane
- Plane of Ludwig
The thoracic plane, also known as the transthoracic plane or the plane of Ludwig is an artificial horizontal plane used to divide the mediastinum into the superior mediastinum and the inferior mediastinum.
It is defined as a horizontal line that runs from the manubriosternal joint (sternal angle or angle of Louis) to the inferior endplate of T4 1. Above the thoracic plane is the superior mediastinum and below the thoracic plane is the inferior mediastinum.
A number of important structures are transected by the thoracic plane 1:
- bifurcation of the trachea, i.e. the carina
- aortic arch (inner concavity)
- pulmonary trunk bifurcation
- azygos vein drains into the SVC, arching over the right main bronchus
- left recurrent laryngeal nerve loops around the aortic arch
- thoracic duct moves from right to left hand side posterior to the esophagus
- ligamentum arteriosum
- cardiac plexus (superficial and deep parts)
- termination of the prevertebral fascia and pretracheal fascia
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Quiz questions
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References
- 1. Mcminn. Lasts Anatomy Regional and Applied. Churchill Livingstone. (2003) ISBN:0729537528. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Moore KL, Agur AMR, Dalley AF. Clinically oriented anatomy. LWW. ISBN:1451119453. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Vertebral levels (anatomical landmarks)
- Pulmonary trunk
- Trachea
- Tracheobronchial tree
- Left pulmonary artery
- Ascending aorta
- Inferior mediastinum
- Aortic arch
- Thoracic duct
- Manubrium
- Superior mediastinum
- Mediastinal mass
- Right pulmonary artery
- Sternal body
- Descending aorta
- Ligamentum arteriosum
- Anterior mediastinum
- Thoracic plane (mnemonic)
- Carina
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Anatomy: Thoracic
- thoracic skeleton
- thoracic cage
- thoracic spine
- articulations
- muscles of the thorax
- diaphragm
- intercostal space
- intercostal muscles
- variant anatomy
- spaces of the thorax
- thoracic viscera
- lower respiratory tract
-
heart
- cardiac chambers
- heart valves
- cardiac fibrous skeleton
- innervation of the heart
- development of the heart
- cardiac wall
-
pericardium
- epicardium
- epicardial fat pad
- pericardial space
- oblique pericardial sinus
- transverse pericardial sinus
-
pericardial recesses
- aortic recesses
- pulmonic recesses
- postcaval recess
- pulmonary venous recesses
- pericardial ligaments
- myocardium
- endocardium
-
pericardium
- esophagus
- thymus
- breast
- arterial supply of the thorax
-
thoracic aorta (development)
-
ascending aorta
-
aortic root
- aortic annulus
-
coronary arteries
- coronary arterial dominance
- myocardial segments
-
left main coronary artery (LMCA)
- ramus intermedius artery (RI)
-
circumflex artery (LCx)
- obtuse marginal branches (OM1, OM2, etc))
- Kugel's artery
-
left anterior descending artery (LAD)
- diagonal branches (D1, D2, etc)
- septal perforators (S1, S2, etc)
-
right coronary artery (RCA)
- conus artery
- sinoatrial nodal artery
- acute marginal branches (AM1, AM2, etc)
- inferior interventricular artery (PDA)
- posterior left ventricular artery (PLV)
- congenital anomalies
- sinotubular junction
-
aortic root
- aortic arch
- aortic isthmus
- descending aorta
-
ascending aorta
- pulmonary trunk
-
thoracic aorta (development)
- venous drainage of the thorax
- superior vena cava (SVC)
- inferior vena cava (IVC)
-
coronary veins
-
cardiac veins which drain into the coronary sinus
- great cardiac vein
- middle cardiac vein
- small cardiac vein
- posterior vein of the left ventricle
- vein of Marshall (oblique vein of the left atrium)
- anterior cardiac veins
- venae cordis minimae (smallest cardiac veins or thebesian veins)
-
cardiac veins which drain into the coronary sinus
- pulmonary veins
- bronchial veins
- thoracoepigastric vein
- lymphatics of the thorax
- innervation of the thorax
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