Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 Feb;25(1):5-15.
doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1275166.

Introduction to chest wall reconstruction: anatomy and physiology of the chest and indications for chest wall reconstruction

Mark W Clemens, Karen K Evans, Samir Mardini, Phillip G Arnold

Introduction to chest wall reconstruction: anatomy and physiology of the chest and indications for chest wall reconstruction

Mark W Clemens et al. Semin Plast Surg. 2011 Feb.

Abstract

The chest wall functions as a protective cage around the vital organs of the body, and significant disruption of its structure can have dire respiratory and circulatory consequences. The past several decades have seen a marked improvement in the management and reconstruction of complex chest wall defects. Widespread acceptance of muscle and musculocutaneous flaps such as the latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, serratus anterior, and rectus abdominis has led to a sharp decrease in infections and mortality. Successful reconstructions are dependent upon a detailed knowledge of the functional anatomy and blood supply of the chest and the underlying pathophysiology of a particular disease process. This article will provide an overview of key principles and evidence-based approaches to chest wall reconstruction.

Keywords: Chest wall reconstruction.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The thoracic skeleton: (A) anterior view, (B) posterior view. (From THIEME Atlas of Anatomy, General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System, © Thieme 2005, Illustration by Karl Wesker.)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Anterior trunk wall nerves and vessels. (From THIEME Atlas of Anatomy, General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System, © Thieme 2005, Illustration by Karl Wesker.)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Muscles of the chest wall: (A) anterior view, (B) posterior view. (From THIEME Atlas of Anatomy, General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System, © Thieme 2005, Illustration by Karl Wesker.)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pectoralis major muscle. (From THIEME Atlas of Anatomy, General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System, © Thieme 2005, Illustration by Karl Wesker.)
Figure 5
Figure 5
Latissimus dorsi muscle. (From THIEME Atlas of Anatomy, General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System, © Thieme 2005, Illustration by Karl Wesker.)
Figure 6
Figure 6
Serratus anterior muscle. (From THIEME Atlas of Anatomy, General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System, © Thieme 2005, Illustration by Karl Wesker.)
Figure 7
Figure 7
Rectus abdominus muscle. (From THIEME Atlas of Anatomy, General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System, © Thieme 2005, Illustration by Karl Wesker.)
Figure 8
Figure 8
External oblique muscle. (From THIEME Atlas of Anatomy, General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System, © Thieme 2005, Illustration by Karl Wesker.)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Sarr M G, Gott V L, Townsend T R. Mediastinal infection after cardiac surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 1984;38:415–423. - PubMed
    1. Breyer R H, Mills S A, Hudspeth A S, Johnston F R, Cordell A R. A prospective study of sternal wound complications. Ann Thorac Surg. 1984;37:412–416. - PubMed
    1. Martin R D. The management of infected median sternotomy wounds. Ann Plast Surg. 1989;22:243–251. - PubMed
    1. Yuen J C, Zhou A T, Serafin D, Georgiade G S. Long-term sequelae following median sternotomy wound infection and flap reconstruction. Ann Plast Surg. 1995;35:585–589. - PubMed
    1. Chase C W, Franklin J D, Guest D P, Barker D E. Internal fixation of the sternum in median sternotomy dehiscence. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999;103:1667–1673. - PubMed