Skeletal System of the Chest and Abdomen in an Obese Male, Anterior View

Description

Anterior thoracoabdominal anatomy is rendered with a semi-transparent soft-tissue envelope over an obese adult male torso, allowing the bony landmarks of the thorax and abdomen to remain readable against the surface contours. The sternum lies on the anterior midline with the costal cartilages sweeping laterally to meet the ribs, which arc posterolaterally to the thoracic vertebrae and define the width of the rib cage. Inferiorly, the costal margin frames the upper abdomen while the lumbar vertebrae descend toward the pelvic brim, where the iliac crests form the superolateral margins of the pelvis. Portions of the proximal humeri and scapulae may be appreciated at the shoulder girdle margins, lateral to the upper ribs. Obesity changes what you can palpate and where you can safely work. This anterior view helps orient procedures that rely on surface landmarks despite a thicker subcutaneous layer, including sternal and costal margin localization, chest tube site planning relative to rib spaces, and abdominal access where the iliac crest guides port placement and neuraxial level estimation. It also supports teaching the mechanical consequences of an expanded rib basket and lumbar lordosis pattern on posture, respiratory excursion, and load transfer to the lumbopelvic junction. A practical reference. Use this asset in gross anatomy, radiographic anatomy, and physical diagnosis materials to correlate the sternum, ribs, and pelvis with external body habitus, or in clinical education content addressing bariatric patient positioning, airway and thoracic access planning, and safe landmarking for abdominal procedures. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.