A resident physician demonstrating the correct technique for inserting a subclavian central venous line. He has a medical student palpate the clavicle, then the chest wall below it. The first bony structure that can be palpated below the inferior margin of the medical portion of the clavicle is the

A resident physician demonstrating the correct technique for inserting a subclavian central venous line. He has a medical student palpate the clavicle, then the chest wall below it. The first bony structure that can be palpated below the inferior margin of the medical portion of the clavicle is the



(A) acromion
(B) atlas
(C) first rib
(D) manubrium
(E) second rib

Answer: (E) second rib