A resident obtained a sample of pleural fluid from a patient's right pleural cavity. He inserted the needle close to the upper border of the sixth rib in the anterior axillary line.
-Name the muscles that the needle pierced in order to enter the pleural cavity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

On the anterior axillary line (a line extending vertically downward from the lower border of the pectoralis major muscle) at the level of the upper border of the sixth rib, the needle would pierce the skin, fascia, the serratus anterior muscle, the external intercostal muscle, the internal intercostal muscle, the innermost intercostal muscle, and the parietal pleura (see text Fig. 3-4).

A Resident Obtained a Sample of Pleural Fluid from a Patient's