18-06-2014, 01:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 18-06-2014, 02:12 PM by Drew Phipps.)
That is what pneumothorax means, although the mediastinum specifically doesn't include the lungs. Displacement of the mediathorax by virtue of a collapsed lung would be unlikely to affect the location of the trachea. Pneumothorax can also occur as a result of recessitation efforts, so it might be important to know if the doctor noted this prior to recessitation efforts, or during them. After re-reading the above, only Dr. Jenkins could have been describing something that was observed before the initiation of lifesaving efforts.
For what its worth, the autopsy doctors specifically found that the bullet to the back at the T3 vertebrae did not pierce the thoracic cavity but bruised the pleural membrane as it passed by, which finding would seem to exclude a traumatic cause for a collapsed lung (Keep in mind the relative inexperience of the autopsy doctors). There is some x-ray evidence that there was a fracture to one of JFK's thoracic vertebra near the spine, but this too could have been caused by the close passage of a bullet. If fractured, a bone fragment tossed downward might have pierced through the chest wall and led to a pneumothorax.
One of the more interesting finds made by the autopsy doctors is that the entry hole in JFK's back measured 6 mm by 4 mm, which is too small to have been made by a (round) 6.5 mm bullet.
Interesting catch, though. If the first bullet had pierced the lung, it is highly unlikely to have exited the body through the throat. The lung does extend above the clavicle briefly, so you might get a puncture if the bullet was just in the right place, but a more or less straight line wouldn't lead from back to lung to throat. It might explain JFK's gesture to his throat, if he was having trouble breathing.
For what its worth, the autopsy doctors specifically found that the bullet to the back at the T3 vertebrae did not pierce the thoracic cavity but bruised the pleural membrane as it passed by, which finding would seem to exclude a traumatic cause for a collapsed lung (Keep in mind the relative inexperience of the autopsy doctors). There is some x-ray evidence that there was a fracture to one of JFK's thoracic vertebra near the spine, but this too could have been caused by the close passage of a bullet. If fractured, a bone fragment tossed downward might have pierced through the chest wall and led to a pneumothorax.
One of the more interesting finds made by the autopsy doctors is that the entry hole in JFK's back measured 6 mm by 4 mm, which is too small to have been made by a (round) 6.5 mm bullet.
Interesting catch, though. If the first bullet had pierced the lung, it is highly unlikely to have exited the body through the throat. The lung does extend above the clavicle briefly, so you might get a puncture if the bullet was just in the right place, but a more or less straight line wouldn't lead from back to lung to throat. It might explain JFK's gesture to his throat, if he was having trouble breathing.
"All that is necessary for tyranny to succeed is for good men to do nothing." (unknown)
James Tracy: "There is sometimes an undue amount of paranoia among some conspiracy researchers that can contribute to flawed observations and analysis."
Gary Cornwell (Dept. Chief Counsel HSCA): "A fact merely marks the point at which we have agreed to let investigation cease."
Alan Ford: "Just because you believe it, that doesn't make it so."
James Tracy: "There is sometimes an undue amount of paranoia among some conspiracy researchers that can contribute to flawed observations and analysis."
Gary Cornwell (Dept. Chief Counsel HSCA): "A fact merely marks the point at which we have agreed to let investigation cease."
Alan Ford: "Just because you believe it, that doesn't make it so."