Difference between thoracic cage in adult infant & older age
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Difference between infant, adult and older thoracic cage
The thoracic cage supports breathing and safeguards vital organs.
Formation: by the ribs, sternum, and thoracic vertebrae.
It matures to its full size
and shape during adulthood, when it is most suited for maximum respiratory
efficiency. The ribs take on a more elliptical shape, tapering towards the top
and widening at the base to give the lungs and other thoracic organs the best
possible support. Its stability is enhanced by the less flexible costal
cartilages and more solid rib articulations with the sternum.
With age, it experiences age-related changes that might impact
thoracic mobility and respiratory function. Reduced bone density caused by
osteoporosis, a frequent ailment in older persons, can weaken the sternum and
ribs, raising the risk of fractures and decreasing thoracic stability.
Age-related changes in posture, such as kyphosis or a forward
stooped posture, can also impact the alignment and mobility of the thoracic
cage. Kyphosis leads to a more rounded upper back, decreasing the
anteroposterior diameter of the thoracic cage and limiting thoracic expansion
during breathing.
|
Infant
thoracic cage |
Adult
thoracic cage |
Adult
thoracic cage |
|
Circular
in shaped |
Kidney
shaped |
Barrel
shaped |
|
Ribs
horizontally placed |
Ribs
obliquely placed |
More
horizontally placed |
|
Transverse
diameter cannot be increased by thoracic breathing but respiration is purely
abdominal |
Transverse
diameter can be increased by thoracic breathing but respiration is
thoraco-abdominal |
Transverse
diameter can be increased by thoracic breathing but respiration is
thoraco-abdominal |
|
Un-ossified
sternebrae are present |
No
Un-ossified sternebrae, unit and formed single segment |
Lower
end curve inward |
|
Menubriosternal
angulation is less prominent |
Menubrio-sternal
angulation is prominent |
Menubrio-sternal
angulation is more prominent |
|
shallow
kyphotic curvature present in vertebral column |
Well
developed kyphotic curvature present in vertebral column |
Exaggerated
kyphotic curvature |
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