Thoracic Body Wall & Vertebral

Column Imaging Quiz

Developed by: Sorcha McCaughley & Mark Brims
Approved by: Alison King & Maureen Bain
Supported by: The Chancellors Fund

Thoracic Body Wall & Vertebral

Column Imaging Quiz
START!

Developed by: Sorcha McCaughley & Mark Brims

Supported by: The Chancellors Fund

Thoracic Body
Wall

Vertebral Column

Thoracic Inlet
Q1
Diaphragm Q2
Ribcage Q3

Typical Vertebra
Q4
Cervical Vertebrae
Q5
Clinical
Considerations Q6

cic Inlet Q1
Feline

(i) Which boundary of the

Thoracic Cavity is formed
by the Thoracic Inlet?
Cranial
Lateral
Caudal

(ii) Which bone forms the

dorsal boundary of the
Thoracic Inlet?
2nd thoracic vertebra
7th cervical vertebra
1st thoracic vertebra

(iii) What forms the

ventral boundary of the
thoracic inlet?
2nd sternebra
Xiphoid
Manubrium

 Correct
Yes! The Thoracic
Inlet is the Cranial
border of the
Thorax!
It is shown here in
these x-rays.
Try (ii)!
Choose a new
question.

Feline
Canine

 Incorrect
No, the Thoracic
Inlet is not the
Lateral boundary of
the Thorax.
The Ribs (arrows)
and Muscles make
up the Lateral
boundaries.
Try again!
Choose a new

Canine

 Incorrect
No, the Thoracic
Inlet is not the
Caudal boundary of
the Thorax.
The Caudal
boundary is the
Diaphragm.
Try again!
Choose a new

Canine

 Correct
Yes! The dorsal
boundary of the
Thoracic Inlet is
formed by the 1st
Thoracic Vertebra!
It is shown here in
these x-rays.
Orange = Cervical
vertebrae
Blue = 1st Thoracic
vertebra

Feline

 Incorrect
No, the 2nd Thoracic
Vertebra does not
form the dorsal
boundary of the
Thoracic Inlet .
The 2nd Thoracic
vertebra is shown in
this x-ray

Try again!
Choose a new

 Incorrect
No, the 7th Cervical
Vertebra does not
form the dorsal
boundary of the
Thoracic Inlet .
The 7th Cervical
vertebra is shown
in this x-ray

Try again!
Choose a new

 Correct
Yes! The ventral
boundary of the
Thoracic Inlet is
formed by the
Manubrium or 1st
Sternebra!
This is shown in
this x-ray.
Try (iv)!

Feline

 Incorrect
No, the ventral
boundary of the
Thoracic Inlet is not
formed the 2nd
sternbra.
The 2nd sternebra is
shown in this x-ray.

Try again!
Choose a new

 Incorrect
No, ventral
boundary of the
Thoracic Inlet is not
formed the Xiphoid.
The Xiphoid or last
sternebra is shown
in this x-ray.

Try again!
Choose a new

Diaphragm
Canine

(i) What are the

Q2
attachments of the
Diaphragm?
Thoracic vertebrae &
Sternebrae
Lumbar vertebrae &
Xiphoid
Abdominal wall

(ii) During which stage of

respiration does the
diaphragm flatten
caudally towards the
abdomen?
Inspiration
Expiration

 Correct
Yes! The
Diaphragm
attaches to the
Lumbar Vertebrae
and Last Sternebra
or Xiphoid.

Try (ii)!
Choose a new
question.

Feline

 Incorrect
No, the Diaphragm
does not attach to the
Thoracic Vertebrae
and Sternebrae.
The Diaphragm forms
the caudal boundary of
the thoracic cavity so
these structures are
located too far cranial

Try again!

 Incorrect
No, the Diaphragm does not attach
to the Abdominal Wall.
Remember: the Diaphragm is the
most important muscle involved in
respiration and needs to be securely
attached to bone!
The abdominal wall is composed of
muscle and soft tissue only.

Try again!

 Correct
Yes! The Diaphragm flattens caudally
during Inspiration.
When the Diaphragm contracts
during inspiration, it flattens. This
increases the volume of the thoracic
cavity which draws air into the lungs.
Try Q3 on the Ribcage!
Choose a new question.

 Incorrect
No, the Diaphragm does not flatten
caudally during expiration.
Remember: during expiration, the
volume of the thoracic cavity reduces
and air is moved out of the lungs.
The Diaphragm relaxes and becomes
dome shaped , bulging cranially into
the ribcage.
Try again!
Choose a new question.

ge Q3
Canine

(i) How many pairs of ribs

does a dog have?
14
13
18

(ii) Which of these is one of

the proximal articulations of
Rib 5?
Head of Rib Cranial Costal
Fovea of Thoracic Vertebra 5
Head of Rib Cranial Costal
Fovea of Thoracic Vertebra 4
Tuberculum Transverse
Process of Thoracic Vertebra 6

(iii) What is the distal

articulation of Rib 5?
Costal Arch
No attachment Floating Rib
Inter-sternal Cartilage

 Correct
Yes! A dog has 13
pairs of ribs!
Here they are
labelled in this xray.
Try (ii)!
Choose a new
question.

 Incorrect
No, the dog does not have 14 pairs of
ribs.
Pigs can have 14-16 pairs of ribs!
Try again!
Choose a new question.

 Incorrect
No, the dog does not have 18 pairs of
ribs.
The horse has 18 pairs of ribs!
Try again!
Choose a new question.

 Correct
Yes! The Head of Rib 5 articulates with the
Cranial Costal Fovea of Thoracic Vertebra
5!
The Head of Rib 5 also articulates with
the Caudal Costal Fovea of Rib 4. T4 T5
The Heads of Ribs 11-13 only articulate
with the Cranial Costal Fovea of their Rib 5
corresponding Vertebrae.
Try (iii)!
Choose a new question.

 Incorrect
No, the Head of Rib 5 does not
articulate with the Cranial Costal
Fovea of Thoracic Vertebra 4.
It is the head of rib 4 that articulates
T4
with the cranial costal fovea of T4T3
and also the caudal costal fovea of T3.

Try again!
Choose a new question.

Rib 4

 Incorrect
No, the Tuberculum of Rib
5 does not articulate with
the Transverse Process of
Rib 6.
The Tuberculum of Rib 5
articulates with the
Transverse Process of Rib 5!

Try again!
Choose a new question.

T5

Rib 5

 Correct
Yes! The distal attachment of Rib 5 is to
the Inter-Sternal Cartilage!
This is true of Ribs 1-9
The Inter-Sternal Cartilage is not usually
visible on x-rays as it is not a bony
structure.
Ribs 10-12 attach to the
Costal Arch and Rib 13
is a Floating Rib.
Move on to the Vertebral Column!
Choose a new question.

 Incorrect
No, the distal attachment of Rib 5 is
not to the Costal Arch.
Ribs 10-12 attach to
the Costal Arch!
Try again!
Choose a new question.

 Incorrect
No, Rib 5 does have a distal
attachment.
It is Rib 13 that is
the Floating Rib!
Try again!
Choose a new question.

Typical Vertebra Q4

(i) What is A?
Vertebral Foramen
Obturator Foramen
Intervertebral Foramen

(ii) What is B?
Dorsal Spinous Process
Vertebral Arch
Transverse Process

C
B

(iii) What is C?
Transverse Process
Dorsal Spinous Process
Body of Vertebra

(iv) Do you know where

in the spine this
vertebra is from? How
can you tell?
Answer.

 Correct
Yes! (A) is the Vertebral
Foramen!
Here are more examples.
Remember the spinal
cord runs through here

Vertebral
Foramen

C1 or Atlas
Vertebral
Foramen

Try (ii)!
Choose a new question.

 Incorrect
No, (A) is not the
Obturator
Foramen.
Remember: the
Obturator Foramen
is found in the
Pelvis!
Try again!
Choose a new

Obturator
Foramen

 Incorrect
No, (A) is not the
Intervertebral
Foramen.
The Intervertebral
Foramen is shown in
this x-ray.
Remember : it is
located between
adjacent vertebra

Try again!

Intervertebral
Foramen

 Correct
Yes! (B) is the
Transverse
Process!
Here are more
examples.
Try (iii)!
Choose a new
question.

Transverse
Process

Transverse
Process

 Incorrect
No, (B) is not the
Dorsal Spinous
Process.
The Dorsal Spinous
Process is shown in
these x-rays.
Try again!
Choose a new
question.

Spinous
Process

Spinous
Process

 Incorrect
No, (B) is not the
vertebral Arch.

Vertebral
Arch

The Vertebral Arch

is shown in these
x-rays.
Vertebral
Arch

Try again!
Choose a new
question.

 Correct
Yes! (C) is the
Dorsal Spinous
Process!
Here are more
examples.
Try (iv)!
Choose a new
question.

Spinous
Process

Spinous
Process

 Incorrect
No (C) is not the
Transverse Process.
The Transverse
Process is shown in
these x-rays.
Try again!
Choose a new
question.

Transverse
Process

Transverse
Process

 Incorrect
No, (C) is not the
Body of the
Vertebra.

Vertebral
Body

The Body of the

Vertebra is shown
in these x-rays.
Try again!
Choose a new
question.

Vertebral
Body

Answer
This Vertebra is from the Thoracic
region of a cat.
You can tell because of the
long dorsal spinous process,
the very short transverse processes
and the presence of ribs (arrow)!

Try Cervical Vertebrae Q5!

Choose a new question.

Cervical Vertebrae Q5
(i) What is A?

C2
C1

(ii) What is another name

for B?
Axis
Atlas

(iii) Which of the

following allows
universal movement
between the skull and
the vertebral column?
B

Atlanto-Occipital Joint
Atlanto-Axial Joint
Occipito-Atlanto-Axial
Complex

 Correct
Yes! A is the first
cervical vertebra or
C1!

C1

Here are x-rays of

C1
Try (ii)!
Choose a new
question.

Transverse
processes or
Wings of C1

 Incorrect
No, A is not C2
which is the 2nd
cervical vertebra!

C2

These x-rays show

C2.
Try again!
Choose a new
question.

C2

 Correct
Yes! B is the 2nd
cervical vertebra or
C2 which is also
known as the Axis!

Axis

These x-rays show

the Axis.
Try (iii)!
Choose a new
question.

Axis

 Incorrect
No, B is not also
known as the Atlas.
Atlas

These x-rays show

the Atlas.
Remember: It is the
1st cervical vertebra
or C1 that is known
as the atlas.

Try again!
Choose a new
question.

Wings of
Atlas

 Correct
Yes! It is the OccipitoAtlanto-Axial Complex that
allows universal movement.
The combination of flexion
between the skull & C1 +
rotation between C1 & C2
allows full movement of the
skull relative to the vertebral
column while protecting the
spinal cord from damage

Try Clinical
Considerations Q6!
Choose a new question.

AtlantoAtlanto- Axial
Occipital
OccipitoAtlanto-Axial

 Incorrect
No, the AtlantoOccipital Joint does
not allow
universal
movement
Movement at this
joint is restricted to
flexion and
extension
Remember: this is
the yes joint as it
allows nodding of
the head!

Atlanto-Occipital joint

 Incorrect
No, the AtlantoAxial Joint does not
allow universal
movement
Movement at this
joint is restricted to
lateral rotation
Remember: this is
the no joint as it
allows shaking of
the head!

Try again!

AtlantoAxial

Clinical Considerations Q6
Do you know what
space the needle is
in?
Answer.

What structure is
outlined when
radiographic
contrast medium is
injected into the
subarachnoid
space?
Answer.

Answer
The needle is in the Cisterna Magna.
A Cerebro-Spinal Fluid sample can be
taken from this area.
Radiographic contrast medium
can be injected to help visualise
soft tissue structures not
normally seen in x-rays.

Try (ii)!
Choose a new question.

Answer
The Spinal Cord is outlined after
radiographic contrast medium is injected
into the Sub-Arachnoid Space .
This can be achieved via the cisterna
magna or in the lumbar region, as shown
in this x-ray.
This technique is called myelography and
was used to assess the spinal cord before
the advent of advanced imaging
techniques such as MRI and CT.
Back to the Start!