Question 935
{"accessible":false,"alternatives":[{"id":4708,"text":"azygos vein drains into the superior vena cava"},{"id":4706,"text":"bifurcation of the pulmonary trunk"},{"id":4705,"text":"left recurrent laryngeal nerve loops around the aortic arch"},{"id":4707,"text":"ligamentum arteriosum"},{"id":4709,"text":"thoracic duct crosses from left to right hand side"}],"archived":false,"correctAlternativeId":4709,"explanation":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/articles/thoracic-plane\"\u003eTransthoracic plane\u003c/a\u003e, also known as the thoracic plane or the plane of Ludwig, is a horizontal plane between the \u003ca href=\"/articles/manubriosternal-joint\"\u003esternal angle\u003c/a\u003e and the\u0026nbsp;level of the T4-T5 vertebra, which divides the \u003ca href=\"/articles/mediastinum\"\u003emediastinum\u003c/a\u003e into superior and inferior mediastinum.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt transects a number of important anatomical structures. These include:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ebifurcation of the \u003ca href=\"/articles/trachea\"\u003etrachea\u003c/a\u003e (into primary bronchi)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"/articles/aortic-arch\"\u003eaortic arch\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ebifurcation of the pulmonary trunk\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"/articles/azygos-vein\"\u003eazygos vein\u003c/a\u003e empties into the \u003ca href=\"/articles/superior-vena-cava\"\u003eSVC\u003c/a\u003e, as it arches over the right main bronchus\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eleft \u003ca href=\"/articles/recurrent-laryngeal-nerve\"\u003erecurrent laryngeal nerve\u003c/a\u003e loops around the aortic arch\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"/articles/ligamentum-arteriosum\"\u003eligamentum arteriosum\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"/articles/thoracic-duct\"\u003ethoracic duct\u003c/a\u003e (crosses from right to left hand side, rendering the option above false)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e","id":935,"imageUrl":null,"imageAttribution":null,"imageAttributionCaseInfo":null,"firstQuestionPath":"/questions/935","nextQuestionPath":"/articles/thoracic-plane/questions/933","relatedArticles":[{"id":22287,"title":"Thoracic plane (mnemonic)","link":"/articles/thoracic-plane-mnemonic?lang=us"}],"alsoUsedIn":[{"id":396,"kind":"RestrictedPage","title":"Page 396 (in no courses)","link":"https://radiopaedia.org/admin/restricted_pages/396"}],"stem":"\u003cp\u003eWhich of the following does\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;NOT\u003c/strong\u003e occur at the transthoracic\u0026nbsp;plane?\u003c/p\u003e","menuLinks":[{"text":"Report problem with question","url":"https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfO3soWYhOjJ7yErSysyCe5V4A1CqW7WK3rDA7MtAkecMGqNw/viewform?entry.1624461248\u0026entry.553583435=https://radiopaedia.org/questions/935"}],"attemptsPercentages":[{"alternativeId":"4708","percentage":7},{"alternativeId":"4706","percentage":16},{"alternativeId":"4705","percentage":11},{"alternativeId":"4709","percentage":60},{"alternativeId":"4707","percentage":7}],"promptToLogin":false,"questionManager":false,"articleId":"thoracic-plane"}