3a heart Flashcards
What is the thorax?
The thorax sits superiorly in the trunk of the body.
What protects the contents of the thorax?
The thoracic cage, made up of the ribs, costal cartilage, sternum, and thoracic vertebrae.
What is the mediastinum?
The mediastinum is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity, situated between the lungs.
What structures are contained in the mediastinum?
All thoracic structures except the lungs.
What is the sternal angle?
The joint between the manubrium and the body of the sternum.
What is the thoracic plane?
An imaginary line drawn from the sternal angle to the level between T4 and T5.
What are the two main compartments of the mediastinum?
The superior mediastinum and the inferior mediastinum.
What are the subdivisions of the inferior mediastinum?
Anterior mediastinum, middle mediastinum, and posterior mediastinum.
What does the superior mediastinum contain?
The oesophagus, trachea, and neurovasculature including the arch of the aorta and its branches.
What does the anterior mediastinum mainly consist of?
Fat and the thymus.
What does the middle mediastinum contain?
The heart and pericardium, along with the roots of the great vessels.
What structures are found in the posterior mediastinum?
The descending aorta, oesophagus, thoracic duct, azygos system of veins, and sympathetic chains.
What is the azygos system of veins?
An H-shaped configuration of veins that drains the posterior thoracic wall.
What are the sympathetic chains?
Part of the sympathetic nervous system, external to the spinal column, adjacent to the vertebral bodies.
What is the thoracic duct?
The main lymphatic vessel for the return of chyle/lymph to the systemic venous system.
What is the function of the thymus?
A T-cell producing lymphoid organ that plays a role in the development of the immune system.
What is the phrenic nerve?
A paired nerve that supplies the diaphragm, originating from nerve roots C3, C4, C5.
What is the vagus nerve?
The tenth cranial nerve providing parasympathetic input to the gastrointestinal system and heart.
