Medical Challenge

For my non medical readers, this is an abnormal CT scan.  The CT scan takes a transverse image sliced through, so you are looking at the patient sliced in half transversely.  This is the chest area. I will orient you:

The whitish circle and v-shaped part is the vertebral column.  So you know that is the back.   Bone shows up whiter than organs.  The small whitish lines in a circle are the ribcage (more bone) sliced through.  Air shows up dark so the big dark areas are the lungs.  Notice there is darkness streaking on one side and not the other.  As my 16 year old would say: "That is messed up".  What ruptured to allow air to penetrate the muscle area? (click on the image for a better view)


1.  The diaphragm
2.  The esophagus
3.  An intercostal muscle
4.  The interventricular septum
5.  The pericardium

Medical professionals and others:  Make your diagnosis.  The answer will be posted tomorrow.