Normal and abnormal spine and thoracic cage development

Figure 3 Thoracic cage distortion and lung compression. Lung (A) and thoracic cage (B) growth volumes increase in a non-linear fashion over the first twenty years of life. The volumes of both structures are proportional to height in the absence of spinal disease. Spinal deformities alter normal spine and thorax growth, prevent the lungs from expanding and lead to thoracic insufficiency syndrome (C).