Traube's Space Boundaries
Traube's space is a semilunar tympanitic area on the left anterior chest wall bounded superiorly by the left 6th rib, inferiorly by the left costal margin, medially by the left sternal border, and laterally by the anterior axillary line 1.
Anatomical Definition
The boundaries of Traube's space are:
- Superior border: Left 6th rib
- Inferior border: Left costal margin (lower edge of rib cage)
- Medial border: Left sternal border
- Lateral border: Anterior axillary line
This area overlies the gastric air bubble and normally produces a tympanitic sound on percussion 1.
Clinical Significance
Obliteration of the normal tympany in Traube's space strongly suggests left-sided pleural effusion, distinguishing it from other causes of dullness such as consolidation or atelectasis 1. The presence of normal tympany helps exclude significant pleural fluid accumulation in this region.
Key Clinical Points:
- The space should be percussed with the patient in an upright or semi-upright position when possible
- Normal Traube's space produces resonant/tympanitic percussion notes due to the underlying gastric air bubble
- Loss of tympany (dullness) indicates displacement of the stomach by fluid, enlarged spleen, or other pathology
- This physical examination finding remains valuable for bedside assessment of left hemithorax pathology
The anatomical landmarks align with standard chest topography definitions, where the anterior axillary line descends vertically from the armpit along the lateral chest wall 2, and the left sternal border runs along the lateral edge of the sternum 2.