| intercostal lymph nodes | One or two small nodes located posteriorly in each intercostal space; they receive lymph from the parietal pleura, intercostal space, and posterior body wall; the nodes in the upper spaces empty into the thoracic duct; the nodes in the lower spaces form a descending intercostal trunk that opens into the cisterna chyli. Synonym: nodi lymphatici intercostales. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| intercostal membranes | The membranous layers between ribs. Synonym: membranae intercostalia, intercostal ligaments, ligamenta intercostalia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| intercostal muscle | <anatomy> Muscle tissue between two ribs. This muscle is a type called skeletal muscle. (12 Dec 1998) |
| intercostal muscles | Respiratory muscles that arise from the lower border of one rib and insert into the upper border of the adjoining rib, and contract during inspiration or respiration. (12 Dec 1998) |
| intercostal nerves | The ventral rami of the thoracic nerves from segments t1 through t11. The intercostal nerves supply motor and sensory innervation to the thorax and abdomen. The skin and muscles supplied by a given pair are called, respectively, a dermatome and a myotome. (12 Dec 1998) |
| intercostal neuralgia | Pain in the chest wall due to neuralgia of one or more of the intercostal nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| intercostal space | An interval between the ribs, occupied by intercostal muscles, veins, arteries and nerves. Synonym: spatium intercostale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| intercostal veins | See: anterior intercostal veins, posterior intercostal veins, highest intercostal vein, left superior intercostal vein. (05 Mar 2000) |
| internal intercostal membrane | The membrane that replaces the internal intercostal muscle posteriorly, medial to the angles of the ribs. Synonym: membrana intercostalis interna. (05 Mar 2000) |
| internal intercostal muscle | <anatomy> Each arises from lower border of rib and passes obliquely downward and backward to be inserted into upper border of rib below; action, contract during expiration, also maintain tension in the intercostal spaces to resist mediolateral movement; nerve supply, intercostal. Synonym: musculus intercostalis internus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| external intercostal membrane | The membrane that replaces the external intercostal muscle anteriorly between costal cartilages. Synonym: membrana intercostalis externa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| external intercostal muscles | Each arises from lower border of one rib and pass obliquely downward and forward to be inserted into the upper border of rib below; action, contract during inspiration, also maintain tension in the intercostal spaces to resist mediolateral movement; nerve supply, intercostal. Synonym: musculus intercostales externi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves | Branches arising in approximately the anterior axillary line at the level of the second through sixth intercostal spaces. Synonym: rami mammarii laterales nervorum intercostalium, lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lateral mammary branches of lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves | Branches arising from the lateral cutaneous branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves (intercostal nerves) T-3 to T-6 which run anteriorly to supply the lateral aspect of the breast. Synonym: rami mammarii laterales rami cutanei lateralis nervorum thoracicorum, rami mammarii laterales rami cutanei lateralis nervorum intercostalium, lateral mammary branches of lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left superior intercostal vein | <anatomy, vein> The vein formed by the union of the left second, third, and fourth intercostal veins; it passes forward across the arch of the aorta to empty into the left brachiocephalic vein and frequently communicates also with the accessory hemiazygos vein. Synonym: vena intercostalis superior sinistra. (05 Mar 2000) |