Health Assessment Study Guide Test 2 [WEII ILLUSTRATED]

Health Assessment Exam 2 Study Guide Respiratory assessment: methods of lung assessment, Types of breath sounds (normal and abnormal and what they might indicate; signs of long term hypoxia; vocal sound The thoracic cage is a bony structure with a conical shape, which is narrower at the top. It is defined by the sternum, 12 pairs of ribs, and 12 thoracic vertebrae. Its floor is the diaphragm. The costochondral junctions are the points at which the ribs join their cartilages; they are not palpable! Rib 1-7 attach to the costal cartilage, 8-10 attach to the costal cartilage above, and 11-12 are floating with free palpable tips. *Surface landmarks on the thorax are signposts for underlying respiratory structures. Anterior Thoracic Landmarks - Suprasternal Notch – Feel this hollow U-shaped depression just above the sternum, between the clavicles - Sternum – The “breastbone” has 3 parts: the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid process. Walk your fingers down the manubrium a few cm until you feel a distinct bony ridge, the sternal angle. - Sternal Angle – Often called the “angle of Louis,” this is the articulation of the manubrium and body of the sternum, and is continuous with the second rib. It is useful place to start counting ribs, which helps to localize a respiratory finding horizontally. Also marks the site of tracheal bifurcation into the left/right main bronchi. - Costal Angle – The right and left costal margins form an angle where they meet at the xiphoid process. Usually 90 degrees or less, this angle increases when the rib cage is chronically overinflated, as in emphysema. Posterior Thoracic Landmarks - Vertebra Prominens – Start here. Flex y