Barrel chest generally refers to a broad, deep chest found on a patient (or other person). A barrel chested person will usually have a naturally large ribcage, very round (i.e., vertically cylindrical) torso, large lung capacity, and can potentially have great upper body strength. It can sometimes be found alongside acromegaly (an enlargement of the extremities resulting from excess levels of human growth hormone (HGH) in the body). Barrel chest, as a medical condition, is most commonly related to osteoarthritis as individuals age. Arthritis can stiffen the chest causing the ribs to become fixed in their most expanded position, giving the appearance of a barrel chest.[1]
Barrel chest refers to an increase in the anteroposterior diameter of the chest wall resembling the shape of a barrel, most often associated with emphysema. There are two main causes of the barrel chest phenomenon in emphysema:
Increased compliance of the lungs increases the intrathoracic pressure. This increase in pressure allows the chest wall to naturally expand outward.[2]
Barrel chest occurs naturally in native people who live at altitudes of over 5500 m, e.g. the Himalayas or the Andes. These natives also have polycythemia and other accommodations for high altitude life.[3]
barrel, chest, generally, refers, broad, deep, chest, found, patient, other, person, barrel, chested, person, will, usually, have, naturally, large, ribcage, very, round, vertically, cylindrical, torso, large, lung, capacity, potentially, have, great, upper, b. Barrel chest generally refers to a broad deep chest found on a patient or other person A barrel chested person will usually have a naturally large ribcage very round i e vertically cylindrical torso large lung capacity and can potentially have great upper body strength It can sometimes be found alongside acromegaly an enlargement of the extremities resulting from excess levels of human growth hormone HGH in the body Barrel chest as a medical condition is most commonly related to osteoarthritis as individuals age Arthritis can stiffen the chest causing the ribs to become fixed in their most expanded position giving the appearance of a barrel chest 1 Barrel chest due to chronic bronchitis and emphysema Barrel chest refers to an increase in the anteroposterior diameter of the chest wall resembling the shape of a barrel most often associated with emphysema There are two main causes of the barrel chest phenomenon in emphysema Increased compliance of the lungs leads to the accumulation of air pockets inside the thoracic cavity Increased compliance of the lungs increases the intrathoracic pressure This increase in pressure allows the chest wall to naturally expand outward 2 Barrel chest occurs naturally in native people who live at altitudes of over 5500 m e g the Himalayas or the Andes These natives also have polycythemia and other accommodations for high altitude life 3 See also editBarrel Pectus carinatum convex but peaked Pectus excavatum concave sunken Respiratory examinationReferences edit Rosenow III M D Edward What causes barrel chest Mayo Clinic Retrieved 14 March 2013 Barrel chest What causes it MayoClinic com Archived from the original on 23 October 2008 Retrieved 2008 11 20 Ganong s review of medical physiology nbsp This medical sign article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Barrel chest amp oldid 1216953400, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
