Costal margin
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name = Costal margin
| Latin = arcus costalis
| Image = Gray115.png
| Caption = Anterior surface of sternum and costal cartilages. (The costal margin forms a large upside-down V on the inferior border.)
| Image2 =
| Caption2 =
| System =
}}
The costal margin, also known as the costal arch,{{Cite journal|last=Talucci|first=R. C.|last2=Webb|first2=W. R.|date=March 1983|title=Costal chondritis: the costal arch|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6830368/|journal=The Annals of Thoracic Surgery|volume=35|issue=3|pages=318–321|doi=10.1016/s0003-4975(10)61566-4|issn=0003-4975|pmid=6830368|doi-access=free}} is the lower edge of the chest (thorax) formed by the bottom edge of the rib cage.
Structure
The costal margin is the medial margin formed by the cartilages of the seventh to tenth ribs. It attaches to the body and xiphoid process of the sternum.{{Citation|last=McGee|first=Steven|title=Chapter 33 - Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease|date=2018-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323392761000330|work=Evidence-Based Physical Diagnosis (Fourth Edition)|pages=285–290.e2|editor-last=McGee|editor-first=Steven|place=Philadelphia|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|isbn=978-0-323-39276-1|access-date=2021-01-04}}
The thoracic diaphragm attaches to the costal margin.{{Citation|last=Mack|first=Savannah M.|title=Lung Anatomy and Aging☆|date=2020-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128012383116009|work=Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|isbn=978-0-12-801238-3|access-date=2021-01-04|last2=Wu|first2=Ching-Wen|last3=Zhang|first3=Chuanzhen|last4=Richard Harding|last5=Pinkerton|first5=Kent E.}}
The costal angle is the angle between the left and right costal margins where they join the sternum.
Function
The costal margins somewhat protect the higher abdominal organs, such as the liver.{{Citation|last=McGee|first=Steven|title=Chapter 51 - Palpation and Percussion of the Abdomen|date=2018-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323392761000512|work=Evidence-Based Physical Diagnosis (Fourth Edition)|pages=433–444.e4|editor-last=McGee|editor-first=Steven|place=Philadelphia|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|isbn=978-0-323-39276-1|access-date=2021-01-04}}
Clinical significance
The costal margin may be used for tissue harvesting of cartilage for use elsewhere in the body, such as to treat microtia.{{Citation|last=Szpalski|first=C.|title=6.621 - Biomaterials and Their Application in Craniomaxillofacial Surgery|date=2011-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780080552941002191|work=Comprehensive Biomaterials|pages=325–341|editor-last=Ducheyne|editor-first=Paul|place=Oxford|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|isbn=978-0-08-055294-1|access-date=2021-01-04|last2=McRae|first2=M.|last3=Rogers|first3=G. F.|last4=Bumgardner|first4=J. D.|last5=Warren|first5=S. M.}}
Different abdominal organs may be palpated just below the costal margin, such as the liver on the right side of the body.
Pain across the costal margin is most commonly caused by costochondritis.{{Citation|last=Suresh|first=Santhanam|title=Chapter 16 - Chronic Pain Management in Children|date=2008-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323041843500194|work=Raj's Practical Management of Pain (Fourth Edition)|pages=343–365|editor-last=Benzon|editor-first=Honorio T.|place=Philadelphia|publisher=Mosby|language=en|isbn=978-0-323-04184-3|access-date=2021-01-04|last2=McClain|first2=Brenda C.|last3=Tarbell|first3=Sally|editor2-last=Rathmell|editor2-first=James P.|editor3-last=Wu|editor3-first=Christopher L.|editor4-last=Turk|editor4-first=Dennis C.}}
The costal paradox, also known as Hoover's sign and the costal margin paradox, is a sign where the costal angle decreases upon inspiration rather than increasing, indicating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
References
External links
- {{SUNYAnatomyFigs|35|01|03}}—"Bony landmarks of the abdomen"
- {{UMichAtlas|abdo_wall60}}
{{Bones of torso}}
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