The structure and functions of the human chest: a scheme with a description, the number of ribs

The analysis of the structure of the human chest and its functions.

Content

The human body is extremely fragile. Almost all of its organs are easily accessible to physical damage, but the most vital of them are protected by special bone structures. For example, such a structure can be called a chest that, due to its special structure, acts as a shield for the heart, light, spinal cord, trachea, parts of the esophagus and some other organs.

The chest is special in that it is in constant motion due to an increase and decrease in the size of the light during inhalation and exhalation. Thus, the chest also constantly changes its size and shifts slightly to the sides, while without violating its protective properties.

Human chest: structure

The chest of a person has a fairly simple structure. Many from school remember that its base is the bones of several varieties and soft fabrics. The most numerous bones are ribs (12 pairs) located on the sides and fixed on the sternum and spine, thereby forming a voluminous bone frame.
The front of the chest consists of the sternum itself and cartilaginous tissues, with the help of which the ribs are attached. The back of the chest form the vertebrae in the amount of 12 pieces and ribs, which are fastened to each other through combined joints.
It is the joints that fastened this whole design that makes it so mobile and mobile, however, muscle tissues play an important role in this matter. In the complex, all these bones, fastened by joints and supported by muscle tissues, become a reliable shield for the organs located inside the chest.

Image 2. The structure of the chest (front and back). — Image 1. The structure of the chest (front and back)

Human chest: chest boundaries

Many people who are poorly familiar with the structure of the human body mistakenly believe that the human chest is located exclusively in the chest area. However, its boundaries go far beyond the chest area.
The upper boundary of the chest is located in the shoulder region and the first ribs are immediately under the collarbone, which is why they are almost impossible to feel.
The unprecedented person to determine the lower border of the chest by touch is also quite difficult. It may seem to some that its lower border is immediately under the last large ribs. However, lower on the sides and closer to the spine are smaller ribs that reach the level of the belt and protect vital organs such as liver and kidneys.

Image 3. The boundaries of the chest. — Image 2. chest boundaries

Important: 3 of the last small ribs are already called “false”. In fact, these are ordinary ribs, and they got their name due to the fact that, unlike others, these ribs are attached not to the sternum, but to the cartilage of the previous ribs.

Human chest: soft tissues

As it was previously mentioned, the human chest consists not only of bone structures, but also equipped with multiple muscle tissues, which give it the greatest plasticity and make the respiratory system function correctly. In addition, they perform the function of an additional protective element of internal organs, filling the empty areas between the ribs and turning the chest into one dense protective structure.

Also, with the help of muscle tissues, the chest is attached to the shoulder girdle, so the ribs receive their mobility. In the usual state, these muscles are not involved in the body. They begin their work only in the case of physical or emotional stress to enhance breathing.

Image 4. Soft chest tissues: diaphragm in section. — Image 3. Soft chest tissues: diaphragm in context

The main muscles of the chest can be divided into two elements:

Diaphragm - This is an unpaired muscle that serves as a dividing element between the chest and abdominal cavities, which controls the internal pressure and is responsible for the correct operation of the lungs (their expansion and reduction). Conditionally, the border of the diaphragm passes along the lower edge of the ribs.
Intercostal muscles - These are fabrics that play a meaningful role in the work of the respiratory system. They also connect the ribs to each other, and in the process of breathing they have the ability to narrow and expand.

Human chest: chest shape

Among people, there is an opinion that a human chest should have a convex frame. However, this opinion is fundamentally erroneous. A similar shape of the chest is inherent in people exclusively in infancy, when its frame consists mainly of cartilaginous fabric, which will only become wogging with age.

In a fully formed adult without obvious pathological deviations, the chest has a relatively wide and flat shape. However, if the frame is too wide or flat, then this is also considered a sign of pathology. The shape of the chest can be deformed due to the infectious diseases. For example, tuberculosis. The cause may also be the curvature of the spine in the chest cavity. Therefore, it is so important to teach the child to sit in the right position.

Image 5. Types of forms of human breast cells. — Image 4. Types of forms of breast cells of a person

In addition to all kinds of pathological deviations on the shape of the chest, the general structure of the person also affects. Its growth and physique. As a rule, among possible forms of the chest, three are most often distinguished:

Asthenic. This shape of the chest is inherent in high -growth people. It has a narrow diameter and an elongated shape with fairly wide gaps between the ribs. People with this shape of the chest have a rather undeveloped muscle breast system.
Normostenic. This shape of the chest is considered the norm and inherent in people of medium height. A similar structure of the chest is also often called "athletic". The ribs are located smoothly and the gap between them is quite small, so that people with this shape of the chest have a well -developed muscle system.
Hyperthenic. This shape of the chest is usually inherent in people below the average. The location of the ribs forms a fairly wide shoulder belt, and thanks to the minimum intervals between them, in people with a similar shape of the chest, the muscle system is very well developed.

Human chest: functions

As has repeatedly noted, the main function of the human chest is the protection of internal organs from external factors. However, the human body is a single whole, each part of which directly depends on the other. In addition to its direct purpose, the chest is a kind of fastening point for many types of muscles responsible for other important parts of the human body.
Also, the ribs of the chest contains a red bone marrow, which is the most important organ of the hematopoietic system. It produces new blood cells in return for dying or dying and is one of the main organs of reconstruction of the cells of the immune system.

Image 6. The main functions of the chest. — Image 5. The main functions of the chest

Therefore, if, with a strong blow, the chest has fulfilled its main function, protecting the internal organs, but it itself was damaged, a person may begin to begin health problems. Their degree depends on the severity of damage to the chest and the age of the victim. This can be fraught with an increase in temperature, the loss of immunity, the acquisition of neuralgia as a result of damage to the soft tissues of the chest, as well as the disease with pleurisy and other more dangerous diseases.