Examine the posterior thoracic wall (both sides of the cadaver).
- Start near the vertebral column and strip (from medial to lateral) the parietal pleura and endothoracic fascia from the posterior thoracic wall. You may need to wet the pleura before stripping it from the thoracic wall.
- Identify at least one posterior intercostal vein and artery. (G 1.76 and 1.77;N 224 and 225;Gl 8.3) Trace the artery to its origin from the thoracic (descending) aorta. Trace the vein to the azygos vein (right side). Identify the right superior intercostal vein draining into the azyygos vein (typically drains intercostal spaces 2 and 3). Attempt to identify the hemiazygos vein on the left side of the cadaver. Do not transect and reflect the esophagus and thoracic aorta.
- Identify at least one intercostal nerve. (G 1.76;N 224 and 225;Gl 8.3) Trace the intercostal nerve to the sympathetic trunk. Attempt to identify rami communicans passing between the intercostal nerve and the sympathtetic trunk.
Important Relationships
- The right posterior intercostal arteries pass anterior to the vertebral bodies.
- The intercostal veins, arteries, and nerves are all positioned directly inferior to the ribs.
- The sympathetic chain is positioned lateral to the thoracic vertebral bodies.
