3. Asthenic chest in persons with asthenic constitution is elongated, narrow (both the anteroposterior and transverse diameters are smaller than normal); the chest is flat. The supra- and subclavicular fossae are distinctly pronounced. The epigastric angle is less than 90°. The ribs are more vertical at the sides, the tenth ribs are not attached to the costal arch (costa decima fluctuens); the intercostal spaces are wide, the shoulder blades are winged (separated from the chest), the muscles of the shoulder girdle are underdeveloped, the shoulders are sloping, the chest is longer than the abdominal part of the trunk.

Pathological chest.

1. Emphysematous (barrel-like) chest

resembles a hypersthenic chest in its shape, but differs from it by a barrel-like configuration, prominence of the chest wall, especially in the posterolateral regions, the intercostal spaces are enlarged. This type of chest is found in chronic emphysema of the lungs. Active participation of accessory respiratory muscles in the respiratory act (especially m. sternocleidomastoideus and m. trapezius), depression of the intercostal space, elevation of the entire chest during inspiration and relaxation of the respiratory muscles and lowering of the chest to the initial position during expiration become evident during examination of emphysema patients.

2. Paralytic chest

resembles the asthenic chest. It is found in emaciated patients, in general asthenia and constitutional underdevelopment; it often occurs in grave chronic diseases, more commonly in pulmonary tuberculosis and pneumosclerosis. During examination of patients with paralytic chest, marked atrophy of the chest muscles and asymmetry of the clavicles and dissimilar depression of the supraclavicular fossae can be observed along with typical signs of aslhenic chest. The shoulder blades are not at one level either, and their movements during breathing are asynchronous.

Paralytic chest

3. Rachitic chest (keeled or pigeon chest). It is characterized by a markedly greater anteroposterior diameter (compared with the transverse diameter) due to the prominence of the sternum (which resembles the keel of a boat.) The anterolateral surfaces of the chest are as if pressed on both sides and therefore the ribs meet at an acute angle at the sternal bone, while the costal cartilages thicken like beads at points of their transition to bones (rachitic beads). As a rule, these beads can be palpated after rickets only in children and youths.

4. Funnel and 5. Foveated chest

Funnel chest has a funnel-shaped depression in the lower part of the sternum. This deformity can be regarded as a result of abnormal development of the sternum or prolonged compressing effect. In older times this chest would be found in shoemaker adolescents.

Foveated chest is almost the same as the funnel chest except that the depression is found mostly in the upper and the middle parts of the anterior surface of the chest. This abnormality occurs in syringomyelia, a rare disease of the spinal cord.

The shape of the chest can readily change due to enlargement or diminution of one half of the chest (asymmetry of the chest). These changes can be transient or permanent.

The enlargement of the volume of one half of the chest can be due to escape of considerable amounts of fluid as the result of accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity, or due to penetration of air inside the chest in injuries (pneumothorax).

One part of the chest may diminish due to

•pleural adhesion or complete closure of the pleural slit after resorption of effusion (after prolonged presence of the fluid in the pleural cavity);

•contraction of a considerable portion of the lung (pneumosclerosis);

•resection of a pan or the entire lung;

•atelectasis (collapse of the lung or its portion)

Respiratory movements of the chest should be examined during inspection of the patient. In physiological conditions they are performed by the contraction of the main respiratory muscles: intercostal muscles, muscles of the diaphragm, and partly the abdominal wall muscles. The so-called accessory respiratory muscles (mm. sternocleidomastoideus, trapezius, pectoralis major et minor, etc.) are actively involved in the respiratory movements in pathological conditions associated with difficult breathing.