Thoracic plane

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Thoracic plane

Mediastinum

The (transverse) thoracic plane or transthoracic plane is a geometric plane used to divide the mediastinum (the middle section of the chest cavity) into the superior mediastinum and the inferior mediastinum.

The thoracic plane runs through the level of the sternal angle (the joint between the manubrium and body of the sternum) and between the intervertebral disc located between the T4 and T5 thoracic vertebrae.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The superior mediastinum extends superiorly above the plane, while the inferior mediastinum extends inferiorly. The inferior mediastinum is further divided into the anterior, middle, and posterior mediastinum.

Significant findings at the level of the thoracic plane

1. The start (where the aortic arch comes out of the heart) and end of the arch of the aorta (where the arch of the aorta becomes the descending aorta)

2. The upper margin of the superior vena cava ^[4]

3. The crossing of the thoracic duct

4. The bifurcation of the trachea ^[5]

5. The bifurcation of the pulmonary trunk

6. The level of the sternal angle (angle of Louis)

7. The level of Rib 2 where it attaches to the sternum via the 2nd costal cartilage

8. The body of vertebrae T4

9. The drainage of the azygos vein into the superior vena cava

References

List of muscles of abdominopelvic cavity (TA A04.5, GA 4.408)

Abdomen/
wall

Anterior/
lateral

Muscle	Abdominal external oblique · Transversus abdominis/Conjoint tendon · Rectus sheath (rectus abdominis, pyramidalis) · Arcuate line · Tendinous intersection Cremaster · Abdominal internal oblique

Fascia	Fascia/abdominal fascia: panniculus adiposus (Fascia of Camper) · stratum membranosum (Fascia of Scarpa) · Transversalis fascia (Interfoveolar ligament) Linea alba · Linea semilunaris · Inguinal triangle Inguinal canal (Deep inguinal ring, Superficial inguinal ring, Intercrural fibers, Crura of superficial inguinal ring) Inguinal ligament (Pectineal ligament, Lacunar ligament, Reflected ligament)

Posterior

Muscle	quadratus lumborum · psoas major/psoas minor · iliacus

Fascia	iliopsoas fascia (Iliac fascia/Iliopectineal arch)

Pelvis

Muscle	levator ani (iliococcygeus, pubococcygeus, puborectalis) · coccygeus

Fascia	fascia/pelvic fascia visceral (Rectovaginal fascia, Rectoprostatic fascia) · parietal (Obturator fascia/Tendinous arch, Piriformis fascia) floor/diaphragm: Superior fascia of pelvic diaphragm (Pubovesical ligament, Puboprostatic ligament) · Inferior fascia of pelvic diaphragm Anococcygeal body

M: MUS, DF+DRCT

anat (h/n, u, t/d, a/p, l)/phys/devp/hist

noco (m, s, c)/cong (d)/tumr, sysi/epon, injr

proc, drug (M1A/3)

v t e Anatomical planes and lines (TA A01.2.00, GA 12.1309)

Sagittal plane	Median plane front (Anterior median line/Midsternal line, Parasternal line, Midclavicular line, Anterior axillary line, Midaxillary line) back (Posterior median line, Scapular line, Posterior axillary line)

Transverse plane	Thoracic plane Transpyloric plane Subcostal plane Umbilical plane Supracristal plane Intertubercular plane Interspinous plane uterine plane enterocolicosigmoid plane

Coronal/frontal plane	Midcoronal plane Sternal plane nasal plane

General anatomy: systems and organs, regional anatomy, planes and lines, superficial axial anatomy, superficial anatomy of limbs

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