45 - Mediastinum Flashcards
Mediastinum location
Between left and right pleural cavities.
Divisions of mediastinum
Manubrio-sterno junction/T4/T5 IV disc divides between superior and inferior mediastinum. Middle mediastinum contains heart. Anterior and posterior mediastinum are divided by heart.
Contents of anterior mediastinum
Thymus
*Pictorial representation of mediastinum
Contents of superior mediastinum (anterior to posterior) 1) 2) 3) 4)
1) Thymus 2) Great veins 3) Aortic arch, vagus, phrenic nerves 4) Trachea, oesophagus, thoracic duct, left recurrent laryngeal nerve
Nerves always associated with the aortic arch
Vagus, phrenic nerves
In anterior view, where do veins and arteries of the heart lie?
Veins lie to the right, with the right heart. Arteries lie to the left, with the left heart
Where do the internal jugular veins meet the subclavian veins?
Behind sterno-clavicular joints
Shape of right and left brachiocephalic veins
Right has a more vertical, shorter course. Left has a longer, more horizontal course
Where do the right and left brachiocephalic veins join?
Behind the 1st right costal cartilage
What do the right and left brachiocephalic veins join into?
The SVC
Why is JVP taken preferentially on the right side?
Right brachiocephalic vein has a shorter, more vertical course, into the right internal jugular. This makes it a more accurate indicator of right atrial pressure.
Veins that join to make brachiocephalic vein
Subclavian, internal jugular
Veins that form SVC
Brachiocephalic vein, azygous vein
How does the azygous vein join the SVC?
Arches forward from the posterior thoracic wall, joins SVC behind second costal cartilage
1, 2, 3 of SVC
1) Brachiocephalic veins enter at first costal cartilage 2) Receives azygous vein behind second right costal cartilage 3) Enters heart behind third costal cartilage
Path of the arch of the aorta
Upwards, backwards, to the left. Continues
*Left lateral mediastinum
Part of lungs that aorta arches over
Lung root
What does the ligamentum arteriosum do?
Links the aorta and pulmonary trunk arising from the right ventricle
What do branches of the aortic arch supply?
Head, neck, upper limbs
Fibrous structure that links aorta and pulmonary trunk arising from right ventricle
Ligamentum arteriosum
Branches of aortic arch
1st - Brachiocephalic trunk, which becomes right common carotid and right subclavian 2nd - Left common carotid 3rd - Left subclavian (posterior to 1st and 2nd branches)