Thoracentesis
Removal of fluid from the space between the lungs and the chest wall (the pleural cavity) for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes using a needle inserted between the ribs.
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- Thoracic
Pertaining to the chest. For example, the thoracic aorta is the part of the aorta that lies within the chest.
- Thoracic aorta
The thoracic aorta is a section of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, within the chest. Specifically, the thoracic aorta is that part of the aorta that starts after the arch of the aorta and runs down to the diaphragm, the great muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. The thoracic aorta […]
- Thoracic cage
The structure formed by the thoracic vertebrae and ribs, the sternum (breastbone), and the costal cartilages (that attach the ribs to the sternum). A cage is an enclosure made of “open work” that usually houses animals. The thoracic cage was thought to resemble an animal cage (although the largest “animals” it holds are the heart […]
- Thoracic duct
A vascular structure that recirculates lymph from the lymphatic circulation into the bloodstream. The thoracic duct begins in the abdomen, tracks alongside the aorta and esophagus, and eventually joins with the left brachiocephalic vein.
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
A condition that is due to compromise of blood vessels or nerve fibers between the armpit (axilla) and the base of the neck, because of compression by adjacent tissues. Symptoms include pain, arm weakness, and numbness in the hands and fingers. Thoracic outlet syndrome can be caused by muscle development from some types of manual […]