Infrasternal angle

Infrasternal angle
The human rib cage.
The thorax from the right.
Latin angulus infrasternalis
Gray's subject #26 118

The lower opening of the thorax is formed by the twelfth thoracic vertebra behind, by the eleventh and twelfth ribs at the sides, and in front by the cartilages of the tenth, ninth, eighth, and seventh ribs, which ascend on either side and form an angle, the infrasternal angle or subcostal angle, into the apex of which the xiphoid process projects.

Pregnancy causes the angle to increase from 68° to 103°.[1]

References

  1. ^ Campbell LA, Klocke RA (April 2001). "Implications for the pregnant patient". Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 163 (5): 1051–4. PMID 11316633. http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=11316633. 

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.