Thoracic plane (mnemonic)

Dr Henry Knipe ◉ ◈ et al.

A handy mnemonic to remember the structures found at the level of the thoracic plane (also known as the plane of Ludwig) is:

CLAPTRAP
RAT PLANT

Mnemonic

CLAPTRAP

C: cardiac plexus
L: ligamentum arteriosum
A: aortic arch (inner concavity)
P: pulmonary trunk
T: tracheal bifurcation (carina)
R: right-to-left movement of the thoracic duct (posterior to the esophagus)
A: azygos vein drains into SVC
P: pre-vertebral fascia and pre-tracheal fascia end

RAT PLANT

R: rib 2
A: aortic arch
T: tracheal bifurcation
P: pulmonary trunk
L: ligamentum arteriosum
A: azygos vein drains into SVC
N: nerves
- loop of recurrent laryngeal nerve
- parasympathetic: contributions to the cardiopulmonary plexuses
- sympathetic: branches of the cardiopulmonary splanchnic nerves
T: right-to-left movement of the thoracic duct

Quiz questions

{"accessible":false,"alternatives":[{"id":4708,"text":"azygous 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 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\"\u003eAzygous 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,"nextQuestionPath":"/questions/935/next","relatedArticles":[{"id":22288,"title":"Thoracic plane","link":"/articles/thoracic-plane?lang=us"}],"stem":"\u003cp\u003eWhich of the following does\u003cstrong\u003e NOT\u003c/strong\u003e occur at the transthoracic plane?\u003c/p\u003e","articleId":"thoracic-plane-mnemonic","nextQuestionId":null}