In anatomy

Anatomy

Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...

, the costophrenic angles are the places where the diaphragm (-phrenic) meet the ribs (costo-).

Each costophrenic angle can normally be seen as on chest x-ray

Chest X-ray

In medicine, a chest radiograph, commonly called a chest X-ray , is a projection radiograph of the chest used to diagnose conditions affecting the chest, its contents, and nearby structures...

 as a sharply-pointed, downward indentation (dark) between each hemi-diaphragm (white) and the adjacent chest wall (white). A small portion of each lung normally reaches into the costophrenic angle. The normal angle usually measures thirty degrees.

With pleural effusion

Pleural effusion

Pleural effusion is excess fluid that accumulates between the two pleural layers, the fluid-filled space that surrounds the lungs. Excessive amounts of such fluid can impair breathing by limiting the expansion of the lungs during ventilation.-Pathophysiology:...

, fluid often builds up in the costophrenic angle (due to gravity). This can push the lung upwards, resulting in "blunting" of costophrenic angle.
The posterior angle is the deepest.
Obtuse angulation is sign of disease

External links

• Image at lumc.edu