A 30 year-old male was bought to the emergency depament after a car accident. He sustained a severe injury to the anterior chest wall from the impact caused by the steering wheel. X-ray revealed fracture of the body of the sternum. Which of the following pa of the hea is most likely to be injured.
High-Yield Explanation
The area posterior to the sternum is occupied by the right ventricle and hence is most likely to be injured in this case. The convex anterosuperior surface of the right ventricle makes up a large pa of the sternocoastal aspect of the hea, and is seperated from the thoracic wall only by the pericardium. Ref: Gray&;s Anatomy 41st edition Pgno: 1001