Midclavicular line

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Midclavicular line
Surface lines of the front of the thorax and abdomen. (Midclavicular line not labeled, but region visible near "mammary line". Note that "mammary line" should not be confused with "mammillary line", which would be a vertical line through the nipple.)
Latin	linea medioclavicularis
Gray's	subject #284 1309
Dorlands/Elsevier	l_10/12496224

The midclavicular line (or midclavicular plane) is a vertical line crossing through the clavicle.

[edit] Clinical significance

It is useful for evaluating hepatomegaly and identifying heart sounds, as well as finding the gallbladder. (The gallbladder is at the intersection of the midclavicular line and the transpyloric plane.)

[edit] See also

• Sagittal plane

[edit] External links

• midclavicular+line at eMedicine Dictionary
• Diagram at rnceus.com (scroll down to second diagram)
• Diagram at University of Glasgow
• Diagram at illustratedclinicalanatomy.co.uk (see item #10 in figure 5.1
• Naylor C, McCormack D, Sullivan S (1987). "The midclavicular line: a wandering landmark.". CMAJ 136 (1): 48–50. PMID 2947672. 
• MedEd at Loyola MEDICINE/PULMONAR/apd/lines.htm

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, Iliopectineal 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")

v • d • e Anatomical planes Sagittal plane Median plane - Midclavicular line Transverse plane Thoracic plane - Transpyloric plane - Subcostal plane - Umbilical plane - Intertubercular plane - Interspinous plane Coronal plane Sternal plane - Midcoronal plane