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BSO - Visceral Osteopathy 2011-2012Session 3&4

Lecturer: Valeria A Ferreira DO MSc Ost PGCAP

+Above the Diaphragm Mobility & Motility(after J.P. Barral and P. Mercier)

Many thanks to J P Barral for verbally agreeing with the use of the text, drawings and extracts of his book “The Thorax” ” (3rd edition, 1994).

+Thorax Learning Outcomes

Revision of the palpation/ location of: Thoracic inlet and Mediastinum Pleural ligaments Thoracic outlet and Diaphragm Lungs Heart

Introduction to the concept of the different visceral restrictions (adhesions, fixations, ptosis, viscerospasm, rhythmic alterations)

Assessment techniques of mobility and motility tests (inspir/expir)

+Thorax Revision of Concepts

Healthy organ has a normal physiological motion or Motility

Altered motion can be caused by: Variations of the axis or the amplitude Alterations to the motility Alterations to the mobility of the organ caused by

surrounding articular structures

Valeria Ferreira

+Thorax Possible clinical presentations

According to Barral,visceral motion can change if: Local pathology with symptoms Early stages of local pathology without

symptoms A local sequaela to an old pathology, with

successful adaptation Viscera having “articular” relations with a

adjacent pathologic tissue/organ A pathology in a structure having vascular,

nervous and fascial relations with the visceraValeria Ferreira

+Thorax Revision of Concepts

Healthy organ has a normal physiological motion or Motility

Altered motion can be caused by: Variations of the axis or the amplitude Alterations to the motility Alterations to the mobility of the organ caused by

surrounding articular structures

Valeria Ferreira

+Thorax Possible clinical presentations

According to Barral,visceral motion can change if: Local pathology with symptoms Early stages of local pathology without

symptoms A local sequaela to an old pathology, with

successful adaptation Viscera having “articular” relations with a

adjacent pathologic tissue/organ A pathology in a structure having vascular,

nervous and fascial relations with the visceraValeria Ferreira

+Thorax Terminology of Visceral restrictions

Visceral restrictions = any reduction in motion caused by restrictions of the sliding surrounding surfaces, connecting ligaments, muscles, etc.

Scar tissues - mechanical irritation leading to decreased motion and change in the axis of movement of the organ(s).

+Thorax

Articular restrictions - involves loss of Mobility & Motility

Adhesions - Reduced Motility but normal Mobility

Fixations - Both Motility and Mobility are compromised (partial/total), causes may include sequelae of pathological infection, pleurisy, peritonitis, surgery, etc

+Thorax

Ligamentous Laxity/ Ptosis = loss of elasticity in the ligament from prolonged overstretching, usually secondary to adhesions (Barral)

Muscular restrictions / Viscerospasms = Hollow organs with double smooth musculature

(longitudinal and transverse fibers) are exclusively affected. Irritation of a group of these fibers can result in viscerospasm, reducing amplitude of its motility. Local restriction that usually only affects part of the organ. Various causes.

Rhythmic problems = Compromised vitality with changes of the axes of motion resulting in a longer resting period or slowing down/irregularity of the rhythm.

+Thorax

Assessment Mobility tests

Mobility test or Listening

+Thorax - RevisionThoracic Inlet

Also called the superior diaphragm.

Composed by muscles and ligaments fibers that join the 1st ribs, clavicles and T1.

The thoracic cavity is separated by the Mediastinum.

The mediastinum contains the Heart, Esophagus, Trachea and Vagus nerve.

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+Pleura

Pleura Parietal layer lines whole thoracic cavity. Inferiorly - Adheres to the diaphragm. Anteriorly and laterally- lies the Sternocostal wall,

connecting with the Endothoracic fascia. Posteriorly- the pleura is thick and fibous, easy to

dettach and it can fix part of the lung or the rib cage. The pleura is very affected by the diaphragmatic

motion (> superior attach’s).

Pleural restrictions are quite common. The superior attachments are area of myofascial tensions and changes in pressure, which makes it vulnerable to restrictions.

+Thorax Pleural dome

Pleural dome

The apex is found at level of T1 Posterior and medial to 1st rib Lateral to Subclavian artery Dome moves inferiorly on inhalation

+Thorax Pleura

Suspensory ligaments Parietal pleura is attached to a connective tissue dome -

(intermediary to the hard skeletal frame). Pleural dome is formed by myofascial fibers and ligaments such

as: the Pleurovertebral lig. Costopleural ligaments - thick connective fibers that connects the dome

to the neck of the 1st rib. It runs along the anterior edge of the 1st rib, ending close to the anterior scalenes.

Some fibers of the scalenus minimus or the transverse cupular ligament (when scalenus minimus is absent).

The Scalenus minimus is only present in 35-65% of people. Often replaced by fibrous tissue with contractile fibers. It originates from the pleural dome, running superiorly along the edge of the 1st rib, against the anterior scalenes. It inserts on the Tps C6-7.

The suspensory ligaments of the pleura and pericardium are inserted particularly on the deep cervical aponeurosis over C7-T1.

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+Thorax Pleural dome attachments

Fascial connections: Fascial extensions of the middle and deep

cervical aponeuroses are in contact with the pleura. They help to attach the pleura to the Csp, neck of the 1st rib and to the Esophagus and Trachea.

These fasciae are divided into 2 parts: C4-7 and attaching to the Pleural dome. From the mid cervical aponeurosis to the inferior

part of the dome.

+Thorax Cervicothoracic diaphragm

Loosely organized area with openings/ passages for the pleura, thymus, large vessels, trachea and esophagus.

The bounderies of this cervicothoracic diaphragm is formed by: Anteriorly - sternum and clavicular insertions

of the cervical aponeurosis. Laterally - vascular sheaths. Posteriorly - visceral sheaths and

fibromuscular pleural apparatus.

+Thorax 2 Mediastinum

+Thorax Thoracic Viscera

The lungs The apex extends from the upper aperture of

the thorax and rises ventrally above the 1st rib in front

The base rests on the diaphragm The flat mediastinal surface faces the medial

connective tissue space in the thorax - the mediastinum

Its costal surface (curved surface) faces the ribs and vertebral column

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+Thorax Landmarks of R & L Bronchus

Trachea - bifurcates at inferior border of the Manubrium

R of the Sternum between the 2nd and 4th ribs (2nd rib connects at the munubrium/sternal junction)

R Bronchus is at 25 degrees off the Trachea

L Bronchus is at 45 degrees off the Trachea

+Thorax The articulations of the Lungs

Sliding surface: Oblique fissure (L) and Horizontal fissure ®

Posterior articulation: Ribcage via parietal pleura

Anterior articulation: Ribcage via parietal pleura

Lateral articulation: Ribcage via parietal pleura

Superior articulation: Scalenes and Cervicobrachial structures via pleural dome and Sibson’s

fascia

Inferior articulation: Diaphragm via parietal pleura

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+Thorax The Heart

Heart

The apex points forwards to the L and downwards

The base points backwards to the R and upwards

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+Thorax Pericardium

Separated from the Sternum by loose connective tissue that thickens at the top and botton ( the superior and inferior sterno-pericardial ligaments).

The degenerated Thymus (±age 8) becomes a fibrous-adipose mass that separates the pericardium from the sternum (ribs 1-3), transforming into pericardial lig’s

Posteriorly - connects with organs found in the posterior mediastinum (T4-T8).

Close connective tissue linkage with the esophagus (difficult to differentiate between esophageal and cardiac complaints).

+The thorax Pericardium

Pericardial ligaments: Superior sternopericardial or

sternocostalpericardial lig

Inferior sternopericardial lig. or xiphopericardium ligament

Vertebropericardial lig

+Thorax Pericardium

Superior sternopericardial (sternocostalpericardial) lig. Helps to suspend the pericardium in the

vertical and supine positions. Triangular shape lig, which inserts on the

manubrium and 1st sternocostal joint. Replaces the degenerated Thymus. Some fibers goes to the manubrium and

others to the middle cervical aponeurosis.

+Thorax Pericardium

Inferior sternopericardial lig. (or xiphopericardium ligament) It helps to suspend the Heart in the supine

position. ± triangular shaped lig. Originates from the xiphoid process,

exchanges several fibers with the diaphragm and inserts into the middle part of the diaphragm.

+Thorax Pericardium

Vertebropericardial lig.

Inserts into a thickened portion of the deep cervical aponeurosis bet. C4 - T4.

Better developed on the L side. This could explain why some of the cardiac pathologies are felt predominantly on the L side.

Some fibers run anteriorly to form aponeurotic sheaths for the Aorta and large vessels at the base of the neck.

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+Thorax The Heart

Superior: R 2nd- 3rd intercostal space L 2nd intercostal space

Inferior R 5th intercostal space L 5th-6th intercostal space

Left margin 2 fingers medially R of left nipple line

Right margin 2 cm R from the Sternum

+Thorax The articulations of the Heart

Sliding surface: Pericardium

Posterior articulation: Bronchi pulmonary ligament

Anterior articulation: Sternum, via sterno-pericardium ligament

Lateral articulation: Lungs, via mediastinal pleura

Superior articulation: Hilum of lungs and great vessels

Inferior articulation: Diaphragm via the pericardial sac

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+Thorax

References Visceral Manipulation- The Thorax, Barral, J.P.: Mercier, P,

1994 Netter, F H (1989), The thorax in Atlas of Human Anatomy,

CIBA-GEICY, USA Lungs and Mediastinum lecture notes from Robert McCoy

(BSO)