- Intercostal space
Infobox Anatomy
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = spatium intercostale
GraySubject = 28
GrayPage = 123
Caption = Intercostal spaces, viewed from the left.
Caption2 = Sternocostal and interchondral articulations. Anterior view.
System =
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DorlandsPre = s_16
DorlandsSuf = 12746516
The intercostal space (ICS) is the space between tworib s (Lat. costa). Since there are 12 ribs on each side, there are 11 intercostal spaces.Importance of intercostal space
Because the chest is protected by the
rib cage , the intercostal spaces are important access points in medicine, for example:
* access for surgical procedures, e.g.resection of (part of) the lung (pneumonectomy ), or insertion of achest tube
* penetrating trauma of thethorax
* for percussion and auscultation of underlying structures, e.g. sites forheart auscultation , percussion inTraube's space , etc.tructures in intercostal space
* several kinds of
intercostal muscle
*intercostal arteries and associatedveins
*lymphatics
*nerves Order of components
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 thetransversus thoracis muscle .External links
*
*
* - "Structural organization within an intercostal space."
* - "Thoracic Wall: The Anterior Thoracic Wall"
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