The<unk>  is useful for assessment using a pulmonary auscultation and thoracic procedures. Due to the relative thinning of the musculature of the back in the<unk> , the posterior thoracic wall is closer to the skin surface, making respiratory sounds audible more clearly with a stethoscope. On the left side, the cardiac orifice of the stomach lies deep to the<unk> . In days before X-rays were discovered, the sound of swallowed liquids were auscultated over this<unk>  to confirm an oesophageal tumour. To better expose the floor of the<unk>  up of the posterior thoracic wall in the 6th and 7th intercostal space, a patient is asked to fold their arms across their chest, laterally rotating the scapulae, while bending forward at the trunk, somewhat resembling the fetal position. The<unk>  can be used as a surgical approach path. It can also be used for applying a nerve block known as the rhomboid intercostal block, which can be used to relieve pain after rib fractures, and a thoracotomy. This nerve block is usually appled by injection into the upper intercostal muscle plane and below the rhombic muscles.
Triangle of auscultation
Computer-aided auscultation
Auscultation
Outline of brain mapping
Percussion 
Dye tracing
Monitor unit
X-ray vision