Mediastinum Flashcards
What are the borders of the mediastinum?
Superiorly: thoracic inlet
Inferiorly: thoracic diaphragm
Anteriorly: sterum and costal cartilages
Posteriorly: thoracic vertebrae
What is the location of the superior mediastinum?
Border: superior to sternal angle at vertebral level of T4-T5
What is found in the superior mediastinum?
- Thymus
- L and R brachiocephalic veins
- SVC
- Aortic arch and its branches
- Vagus nerves
- L recurrent laryngeal nerve
- Phrenic nerves
- Trachea
- Thoracic duct
- Esophagus
- Sympathetic chain
What are the 3 branches of the aortic arch?
- Brachiocephalic artery
- L common carotid a
- L subclavian a
What is the border of the inferior mediastinum?
Inferior to sternal angle (T4-T5)- to T12 vertebra
What are the borders of the anterior mediastinum?
Anterior: sternum and transversus thoracis m
Posterior: pericardium
What are the structures of the anterior mediastinum?
- remains of thymus
- loose CT
- fat
- lymph nodes
- vessels
- branches of internal thoracic artery
- sternopericardial ligament (xiphoid to pericardium)
What are the borders of the middle mediastinum?
Anterior: body of sternum, 2nd-6th costal cartilages
Posterior: 5th- 8th thoracic vertebrae
What are the structures of the middle mediastinum?
- heart
- pericardium
- phrenic nerves
- primary bronchi
- origins of great vessels
- nerves
- lymphatics
Lymphatics of middle mediastinum
- subpericardial lymph plexus
- lymph vessels join to form a single vessel
Where do the lymphatics of the middle mediastinum drain into?
Inferior tracheobronchial lymph nodes
What are the borders of the posterior mediastinum?
Anterior: pericardium and diaphragm
Posterior: T5-T12 vertebrae
What structures are found in the posterior mediastinum?
- thoracic (descending) aorta
- thoracic duct
- azygos system of veins
- esophagus
- nerves
- lymphatics
