The second law of thermodynamics says that the entropy of the universe (or any isolated system therein) is increasing; i.e., the energy of the universe is becoming more uniformly distributed. It is often noted that the second law indicates that nature tends to go from order to disorder, from complexity to simplicity.
Small-bore catheters and Heimlich valves have been successfully used in. the treatment of pneumothoraces in several studies.4,5 The thoracic vent. (see Figure 1) is a minimally invasive device for the treatment of. pneumothorax. It consists of a polyurethane catheter connected to a. plastic chamber containing a one-way valve.
Like all other vertebrae, the thoracic vertebrae help to support the weight of the upper body and protect the delicate spinal cord as it runs through the vertebral canal. The thoracic vertebrae are located in the thorax posterior and medial to the ribs. They form the region of the spinal column inferior to the cervical vertebrae of the neck and superior to the lumbar vertebrae of the lower back....