costal surface (lung)
Last reviewed 01/2018
The costal surface of the lung largely conforms to the costal surface of the pleura:
- it has the largest surface area of the lung surfaces
- its boundaries on each side are:
- anteriorly, the anterior border of the lung
- posteriorly, the posterior border of the lung
- inferiorly, the diaphragmatic border of the lung
- superiorly, the apex of the lung
- the surface is convex in the anterior to posterior direction from its origin behind sternum to the edge of the paravertebral gutters
- across the area of the paravertebral gutters posteriorly, the costal surface is formed into a complimentary concavity
- as it approximates closely to the inside of the thoracic cavity, the costal surface may exhibit indentations corresponding to the position of overlying ribs