The suprapleural membrane, eponymously known as Sibson's fascia, is a structure described in human 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...

.

It is named for Francis Sibson

Francis Sibson

Francis Sibson was a British physician and anatomist.-Early life:He was born at Crosscanonby, near Maryport, Cumberland but grew up and was educated in Edinburgh, apprenticed to John Lizars, surgeon and anatomist, receiving his diploma in 1831...

.

Anatomy

It refers to a thickening of connective tissue

Connective tissue

"Connective tissue" is a fibrous tissue. It is one of the four traditional classes of tissues . Connective Tissue is found throughout the body.In fact the whole framework of the skeleton and the different specialized connective tissues from the crown of the head to the toes determine the form of...

 that covers the apex

Apex

Apex may refer to:- Biology :* Apex , the tip of the spire of the shell of a gastropod* Apex is the Apical meristem or its remnant on a flower...

 of each human lung

Lung

The lung is the essential respiration organ in many air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart...

. It is an extension of the endothoracic fascia

Endothoracic fascia

Endothoracic fascia is the layer of loose connective tissue deep to the intercostal spaces and ribs, separating these structures from the underlying pleura. This fascial layer is the outermost membrane of the thoracic cavity. The endothoracic fascia contains variable amounts of fat....

 that exists between the parietal pleura

Parietal pleura

The portion of the pleura external to the pulmonary pleura lines the inner surface of the chest wall, covers the diaphragm, and is reflected over the structures occupying the middle of the thorax; this portion is termed the parietal pleura....

 and the thoracic cage.

It attaches to the internal border of the first rib

Rib

In vertebrate anatomy, ribs are the long curved bones which form the rib cage. In most vertebrates, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity. They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax...

 and the transverse processes of vertebra C7. It extends approximately an inch more superiorly than the superior thoracic aperture

Superior thoracic aperture

The superior thoracic aperture refers to the superior opening of the thoracic cavity. It is also referred to anatomically as the thoracic inlet and clinically as the thoracic outlet...

, because the lungs themselves extend higher than the top of the ribcage.

Clinical significance

Applied feature:
Herniation of the cervical fascia may result due to injury to suprapleural membrane.

"The thoracic duct traverses Sibson's Fascia of the thoracic-inlet up to the level of C7 before turning around and emptying into the left (major) duct. The right (minor duct) only traverses the thoracic inlet once."

Applied feature:
Somatic dysfunction

Somatic dysfunction

In osteopathic medicine and osteopathy, somatic dysfunction is the impaired or altered function of bodily structures treated by osteopathic manual technique .-Diagnosis:...

of Sibson's fascia can cause decreased lymphatic drainage from anywhere in the body.