Posterior mediastinum

Question 1

Lecture 1 from 25 minutes

Question 2

the Oesophagus:

Descends into post. mediastinum from the ______

Passes _____ and to the _____ of the aortic arch as well as _________

constitutes the ________ relationship of the base of the heart

It then deviates _____ and then passes through the _________ in the diaphragm at the level of ______

May have 3 impressions/ constrictions in its thoracic part.
It is compressed by three structures:
-
-
-

Answer 2

sup. mediastinum

posterior
right
posterior to the pericardium

primary posterior

to the left
oesophageal hiatus
T10

• the arch of the aorta
• the left main bronchus
• The diaphragm

Question 3

Thoracic duct:

It is the _________

Found in the post. mediastinum and lies on the _________

Originates in the ______ from the _________

ascends in the _______ through the diaphragm

Usually thin _____ and dull ______

Often it is beaded due to the presence of ______

-
-
-

Receives branches from the _______

Near its _______, the thoracic duct often receives the ________ lymph nodes

Empties into the venous system near the union of the _________

Answer 3

largest lymphatic channel

anterior aspects of the bodies of the inferior 7 thoracic vertebrae (T5-T12)

abdomen
cisterna chyli

aortic hiatus

walled
white

many valves

• thoracic aorta (on its left)
• azygos vein (on its right)
• Oesophagus (anteriorly)
• Vertebral bodies (posteriorly)

middle and superior intercostal spaces of both sides.

termination
jugular, subclavian and bronchomediastinal

left jugular and subclavian vein (left venous angle)

Question 4

Question 5

The thoracic sympathetic chain:

The sympathetic trunk and associated ganglia form a major portion of the autonomic nervous system

It is continuous with the cervical and lumbar sympathetic trunks

The thoracic trunk lies against the heads of the ribs in the superior part of the thorax, the costo-vertebral joints in the mid-thoracic level and the sides of the vertebral body in the inferior portion of the thorax

the lower thoracic splanchnic nerves (greater, lesser and the least splanchnic nerves) are part of the abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves - they supply viscera inferior to the diaphragm

Question 6

Question 7

Left vagus nerve

L&R enter thorax posterior to ________

Enters between _________

Crosses arch _____ posterior than L phrenic n.

Gives off _________

Passes posterior to _____ lung to form _______

Passes to oesophagus to form ________

Passes post. to the root of the lung left lung where it breaks up into many branches that contributes to the left pulmonary plexus

The left vagus nerve leaves this plexus as a single trunk and passes to the oesophagus where it joins fibres from the right vagus in the oesophageal nerve plexus

Answer 7

SC joint & brachiocephalic v.

L common carotid a. & L subclavian a.

more

L recurrent laryngeal n.

L root of
pulmonary plexus

oesophageal plexus

Question 8

Right vagus nerve

Enter thorax _________

Gives off ________

Runs _________ of trachea

Posterior to _______, divides into many branches to form __________

right vagus nerve leaves pulmonary plexus as a _____ and passes to oesophagus where it ___________

also gives rise to nerves that contribute to the __________

Answer 8

anterior to subclavian a.

R recurrent laryngeal n.

postero-inferior to R

SVC & root of R lung
right pulmonary plexus

single nerve

again breaks up to form oesophageal plexus

cardiac plexus

Question 9

L&R recurrent laryngeal nn. are given off
in

Answer 9

superior mediastinum

Question 10

Right recurrent laryngeal n.

Answer 10

hooks around
subclavian a. and passes to larynx between trachea and oesophagus

Question 11

Left recurrent laryngeal n.

Answer 11

passes inferior to arch of aorta, lateral to ligamentum arteriosum, and passes to larynx between trachea and oesophagus

Question 12

Phrenic nn.
Left and right enters the mediastinum between:

Answer 12

subclavian a. and origin of brachiocephalic v.

Question 13

Right phrenic n.

Descends next to ___________

Passes next to _____ to diaphragm

Answer 13

brachiocephalic v.,
SVC, and pericardium over right atrium

IVC

Question 14

Left phrenic n.

Descends between _______

Crosses arch of aorta _______

Passes ______ to root of L lung

Runs along the _____ superior to _______

Passes to ______

Answer 14

left subclavian and common carotid aa.

anterior to left vagus n.

anterior

pericardium
LA and LV

diaphragm

Question 15