Triangle of auscultation#Clinical significance

It has the following boundaries:

• medially, by the inferior portion of the trapezius
• inferiorly, by the latissimus dorsi
• laterally, by the medial border of the scapula

The superficial floor of the triangle is formed by the lateral portion of the erector spinae muscles. Deep to these muscles are the osseous portions of the 6th and 7th ribs and the internal and external intercostal muscles.

The triangle of auscultation is useful for assessment using a pulmonary auscultation and thoracic procedures.{{Citation|last1=Malik|first1=Nazish|title=Anatomy, Thorax, Triangle of Auscultation|date=2020|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539834/|work=StatPearls|place=Treasure Island (FL)|publisher=StatPearls Publishing|pmid=30969656|access-date=2020-11-02|last2=Tedder|first2=Brandon L.|last3=Zemaitis|first3=Michael R.}} Due to the relative thinning of the musculature of the back in the triangle, the posterior thoracic wall is closer to the skin surface, making respiratory sounds audible more clearly with a stethoscope. On the left side, the cardiac orifice of the stomach lies deep to the triangle. In days before X-rays were discovered, the sound of swallowed liquids were auscultated over this triangle to confirm an oesophageal tumour.

To better expose the floor of the triangle up of the posterior thoracic wall in the 6th and 7th intercostal space, a patient is asked to fold their arms across their chest, laterally rotating the scapulae, while bending forward at the trunk, somewhat resembling the fetal position.

The triangle of auscultation can be used as a surgical approach path.{{Cite journal|last1=Horowitz|first1=Michael D.|last2=Ancalmo|first2=Nelson|last3=Ochsner|first3=John L.|date=May 1989|title=Thoracotomy through the auscultatory triangle|url=https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-4975(89)90148-3|journal=The Annals of Thoracic Surgery|volume=47|issue=5|pages=782–783|doi=10.1016/0003-4975(89)90148-3|pmid=2730202|issn=0003-4975|doi-access=free}}{{Citation|last1=Gandy|first1=Kimberly L.|title=CHAPTER 13 - Surgical Techniques|date=2010-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702030642000138|work=Paediatric Cardiology (Third Edition)|pages=219–237|editor-last=Anderson|editor-first=Robert H.|place=Philadelphia|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-0-7020-3064-2.00013-8|isbn=978-0-7020-3064-2|access-date=2020-11-02|last2=Hoffman|first2=George M.|last3=Vanderwal|first3=Patrick|last4=Tweddell|first4=James S.|editor2-last=Baker|editor2-first=Edward J.|editor3-last=Penny|editor3-first=Daniel J.|editor4-last=Redington|editor4-first=Andrew N.|url-access=subscription}} It can also be used for applying a nerve block known as the rhomboid intercostal block, which can be used to relieve pain after rib fractures, and a thoracotomy. This nerve block is usually achieved by injection of the local anesthetic agent into the fascial plane between the rhomboid upper intercostal muscle and the rhombic muscles.{{Cite journal|last1=Yayik|first1=Ahmet Murat|last2=Aydin|first2=Muhammed Enes|last3=Tekin|first3=Erdal|last4=Ulas|first4=Ali Bilal|last5=Ahiskalioglu|first5=Ali|date=December 2012|title=An alternative plane block for multiple rib fractures: Rhomboid Intercostal and Sub-Serratus block (RISS)|url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2019.158429|journal=The American Journal of Emergency Medicine|volume=37|issue=12|pages=2263.e5–2263.e7|doi=10.1016/j.ajem.2019.158429|pmid=31526541|s2cid=202673902|issn=0735-6757|url-access=subscription}}{{cite journal |last1=Ökmen |first1=K |title=Efficacy of rhomboid intercostal block for analgesia after thoracotomy. |journal=The Korean Journal of Pain |date=1 April 2019 |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=129–132 |doi=10.3344/kjp.2019.32.2.129 |pmid=31091512|pmc=6549589 }}{{cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=R |last2=Su |first2=S |last3=Shu |first3=H |title=Efficacy and safety of rhomboid intercostal block for analgesia in breast surgery and thoracoscopic surgery: a meta-analysis. |journal=BMC Anesthesiology |date=16 March 2022 |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=71 |doi=10.1186/s12871-022-01599-4 |pmid=35296252 |pmc=8925179 |doi-access=free }}

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{{Reflist}}

• {{SUNYAnatomyLabs|01|02|01|03}}
• [http://www.ithaca.edu/faculty/lahr/LE2000/Back/Back_index.htm#triangle Overview and diagram at ithaca.edu]

{{Human systems and organs}}

{{Superficial axial anatomy}}

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Category:Anatomy