Midclavicular line
Encyclopedia
A midclavicular line is a vertical line crossing through the left or right clavicle
.
and identifying heart sounds
, as well as finding the gallbladder
. (The gallbladder
is at the intersection of the midclavicular line and the transpyloric plane
.)
Clavicle
In human anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a long bone of short length that serves as a strut between the scapula and the sternum. It is the only long bone in body that lies horizontally...
.
Clinical significance
It is useful for evaluating hepatomegalyHepatomegaly
Hepatomegaly is the condition of having an enlarged liver. It is a nonspecific medical sign having many causes, which can broadly be broken down into infection, direct toxicity, hepatic tumours, or metabolic disorder. Often, hepatomegaly will present as an abdominal mass...
and identifying heart sounds
Heart sounds
Heart sounds, or heartbeats, are the noises generated by the beating heart and the resultant flow of blood through it...
, as well as finding the gallbladder
Gallbladder
In vertebrates the gallbladder is a small organ that aids mainly in fat digestion and concentrates bile produced by the liver. In humans the loss of the gallbladder is usually easily tolerated....
. (The gallbladder
Gallbladder
In vertebrates the gallbladder is a small organ that aids mainly in fat digestion and concentrates bile produced by the liver. In humans the loss of the gallbladder is usually easily tolerated....
is at the intersection of the midclavicular line and the transpyloric plane
Transpyloric plane
An upper transverse line also known as Addison's Plane, is located halfway between the jugular notch and the upper border of the pubic symphysis; this indicates the margin of the transpyloric plane, which in most cases cuts through the pylorus, the tips of the ninth costal cartilages and the lower...
.)
External links
- Diagram at rnceus.com (scroll down to second diagram)
- Diagram at University of GlasgowUniversity of GlasgowThe University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
- Diagram at illustratedclinicalanatomy.co.uk (see item #10 in figure 5.1