A 42-year-old male was admitted to the hospital after a head-on vehicular collision in which he received severe blunt trauma to his sternum from the steering wheel. What part of the heart would be most likely to be injured by the impact?
- Right ventricle
- Apex of left ventricle
- Left ventricle
- Right atrium
- Anterior margin of the left atrium
These components of the heart are readily viewed in a plain radiograph of the thorax. It is important to understand the spatial arrangement of the heart as it rests in the thorax. The conus region of the right ventricle is located on the most anterior aspect of the heart, thus it is the most anterior portion of the heart within the thorax. The apex of the left ventricle is also located anteriorly, but it is located lateral to the sternum and occupies little area compared with the right ventricle. The left ventricle is positioned on the left lateral side and slightly posterior position in the thorax. The right atrium is located on the right lateral side of the heart. The anterior margin of the left atrium is positioned posteriorly in the thorax.
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