Broadbent sign is a

clinical sign Signs and symptoms are the observed or detectable signs, and experienced symptoms of an illness, injury, or condition. A sign for example may be a higher or lower temperature than normal, raised or lowered blood pressure or an abnormality showin ...

in which the 11th and 12th

rib In vertebrate anatomy, ribs ( la, costae) are the long curved bones which form the rib cage, part of the axial skeleton. In most tetrapods, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the ch ...

s are indrawn during systolic phase of a heartbeat, with narrowing of the

intercostal space The intercostal space (ICS) is the anatomic space between two ribs (Lat. costa). Since there are 12 ribs on each side, there are 11 intercostal spaces, each numbered for the rib superior to it. Structures in intercostal space * several kind ...

posteriorly, which is seen in case

adhesive pericarditis Adhesive, also known as glue, cement, mucilage, or paste, is any non-metallic substance applied to one or both surfaces of two separate items that binds them together and resists their separation. The use of adhesives offers certain advant ...

due to pericardial adhesions to the

diaphragm Diaphragm may refer to: Anatomy * Thoracic diaphragm, a thin sheet of muscle between the thorax and the abdomen * Pelvic diaphragm or pelvic floor, a pelvic structure * Urogenital diaphragm or triangular ligament, a pelvic structure Other * Diap ...

. During diseased status of adhesive pericarditis, the pericardium of the heart may adhere not only to the

central tendon of diaphragm The central tendon of the diaphragm is a thin but strong aponeurosis situated slightly anterior to the vault formed by the muscle, resulting in longer posterior muscle fibers. It is inferior to the fibrous pericardium, which fuses with the cent ...

, but also to a large area of muscular portion of

as well as anterior chest wall. Thus when the heart contracts, the adhesion portion may be dragged inward and downward (if the main contraction force is toward central tendon of diaphragm). Besides, absent palpable apical impulse can also be detected in the case of adhesive pericarditis. The sign is named after

Walter Broadbent Dr. Walter Broadbent (1868–1951) was an English physician remembered for describing the Broadbent sign of constrictive pericarditis. Biography Walter Broadbent was born in 1868, the son of Sir William Broadbent. He was educated at Harrow Sc ...

, and was published in his first paper in 1895, although it may have been inspired by his father, Sir William Broadbent.Barry G. Firkin, Judith A. Whitworth. ''Dictionary of Medical Eponyms.'' Informa Health Care, 2001, page 47. .

References

Medical signs Cardiology {{med-sign-stub