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Flail Chest-I

Flail Chest-I

Overview of Flail Chest
Flail chest is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the fracture of three or more adjacent ribs in multiple places. It is most commonly caused by direct impacts and trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents or injuries from a steering wheel impact. It can also occur due to falls in elderly individuals with osteoporosis, or assaults involving sharp objects.
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of flail chest is complex, involving fractures of...

Flail Chest-II

Flail Chest-II

Managing flail chest, a condition characterized by a segment of the chest wall moving independently from the rest of the thoracic cage, requires a comprehensive approach. It includes a thorough assessment of the patient's condition, a diagnostic evaluation to determine the extent of the injury, and the implementation of appropriate medical interventions tailored to the individual's needs.
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History:

Veins of Thorax

Veins of Thorax

The azygos system is a crucial part of the body's circulatory system and drains most of the thorax. It comprises the azygos, hemiazygos, and accessory hemiazygos veins.
The azygos vein, positioned just right of the midline and anterior to the vertebral column, begins at the junction of the right ascending lumbar and subcostal veins, terminating in the superior vena cava. This vein drains blood from the right side of the thoracic wall, thoracic viscera, and posterior abdominal wall.
The...

The Thoracic Cage: Sternum

The Thoracic Cage: Sternum

The thoracic or rib cage forms the body's thorax (chest) portion. Its primary function in the body is to protect vital organs in the thoracic cavity, such as the heart and the lungs. It consists of 12 pairs of ribs with their costal cartilages and the sternum. The ribs are anchored posteriorly to the 12 thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12).
The sternum is the elongated bony structure on the anterior side of the thoracic cage. It consists of three parts: the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid process.

The Thoracic Cage: Ribs

The Thoracic Cage: Ribs

Ribs are curved, flattened bones forming the thoracic cavity wall with the thoracic muscles. There are 12 pairs of thoracic ribs. The posterior ends of all the ribs articulate with the T1–T12 thoracic vertebrae. In contrast,the anterior ends of most ribs attach to the sternum via their costal cartilages.
Parts of a Typical Rib
A typical rib has a head, neck, and body. The posterior end of the rib is called the head, followed by a narrow neck. The head articulates primarily with the costal facet...

Muscles of the Thorax

Muscles of the Thorax

The thorax muscles are central to the body's respiration and provide essential support and movement for the upper body. They are intricately designed to facilitate the complex breathing process while also contributing to the structural integrity and mobility of the chest and upper limbs.
The diaphragm is at the core of thoracic musculature, the primary muscle involved in breathing. This expansive, dome-shaped muscle marks the division between the thoracic and abdominal cavities. It originates...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Evaluating Targeting Accuracy in the Focal Plane for an Ultrasound-guided High-intensity Focused Ultrasound Phased-array System

Evaluating Targeting Accuracy in the Focal Plane for an Ultrasound-guided High-intensity Focused Ultrasound Phased-array System

Published on: March 6, 2019

[Aiming at the chest, but hitting the back].

Wolf-Dieter Zech¹, Stefan Axmann, Lea Siegenthaler

¹Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Universität Bern.

Archiv Fur Kriminologie

|November 2, 2011

Summary

A gunshot wound to the back does not automatically mean the shooter aimed there. Both men and women can turn their bodies quickly enough for a shot to be aimed at the front, even with firearms.

Area of Science:

Forensic Science
Biomechanics
Ballistics

Context:

Gunshot injuries are a critical area of forensic investigation.
Determining the trajectory and intent behind firearm use is crucial.
Previous research indicated men could evade shots by trunk rotation.

Purpose:

To investigate if women can also evade firearm projectiles through rapid trunk rotation.
To analyze the biomechanics of trunk rotation in relation to projectile velocity.
To assess the implications for interpreting gunshot wounds to the back.

Summary:

High-speed cameras demonstrated that women can rotate their trunks rapidly.
This rotation is fast enough to cause a projectile fired at the front to strike the back.

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Evaluating Targeting Accuracy in the Focal Plane for an Ultrasound-guided High-intensity Focused Ultrasound Phased-array System

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The findings extend to hand-operated or thrown weapons due to lower projectile speeds.

Impact:

Challenges the assumption that a back gunshot wound implies the shooter aimed at the back.
Provides crucial biomechanical data for forensic analysis of firearm injuries.
Enhances the understanding of projectile dynamics and human evasion capabilities.