A: Mediastinum Flashcards
Superior mediastinum major contents:
Thymus glands
Veins: right + left brachiocephalic veins, superior vena cava, arch of azygous vein
Arteries: aortic arch + its branches (brachiocephalic, left common carotid, left subclavian arteries)
Nerves: left + right vagus, left recurrent laryngeal branch of left vagus, left + right phrenic nerves
Viscera: trachea, oesophagus and its plexus derived from left + right vagus nerves + branches from sympathetic chain
Thoracic duct
Posterior mediastinum major contents
DATES:
D - descending aorta
A - azygous venous system
T - thoracic duct
E - Oesophagus
S - sympathetic nerves + trunk
Anterior mediastinum contents
thymus gland
Fat
Lymph nodes
Connective tissue
Sternopericardial ligaments
Left brachiocephalic vein in children?
Rises above upper border of manubrium, so is less protected from injury as opposed to passing behind manubrium.
Right and left brachiocephalic veins unite to form what and where?
superior vena cava, behind lower edge of 1st RCC close to sternum
Path of superior vena cava - at what point does it enter right atrium?
Descends in front of lung root to open into right atrium behind lower edge of 3rd RCC. Receives azygous vein immediately before entering pericardial sac.
Azygous veins
- Arise at L1/L2.
- Passes through aortic hiatus to enter posterior mediastinum.
- Continues up along right side of bodies of thoracic vertebrae.
- Receives posterior intercostal veins
- Azygous vein forms arch that passes over root of right lung + enters posterior aspect of superior vena cava, immediately before superior vena cava enters pericardial sac
- Drains mediastinum + posterior thoracic + abdominal walls on right.
Hemiazygous veins
- Drains mediastinum + lower posterior thoracic wall + abdominal wall on left.
- Arises in abdomen by junction of veins
- Passes through aortic hiatus to enter posterior mediastinum
- Continues up on left side of bodies of thoracic vertebrae
- Receives posterior intercostal veins
- Hemiazygous crosses to right side to enter azygous vein, posterior to thoracic aorta.
Patent ductus arteriosus
Congenital heart defect where ductus arteriosus fails to close at birth. Oxygenated + deoxygenated blood mix.
Branches of ascending aorta
Right & left coronary arteries
Branches of aortic arch
- Brachiocephalic artery. Divides into right subclavian + common carotid artery behind right sternoclavicular joint
- Left common carotid artery: ascends through superior mediastinum and supplies left side of head and neck
- Left subclavian artery: ascends through superior mediastinum, on left side of trachea. Enters neck + curves laterally on dome of pleura. Passes between anterior scalene + middle scalene.
Branches of descending aorta
- posterior intercostal arteries. Supply intercostal spaces & thoracic wall
- Oesophageal branches to oesophagus.
Vagus nerves innervations + where does it enter?
- Provide parasympathetic innervation to thoracic viscera + carry sensory fibres from thoracic viscera about normal physiology processes + reflex activities.
- Do not carry pain sensations
- Enters superior mediastinum posterior to brachiocephalic veins.
Branches of vagus nerves
Lung - pulmonary plexus
Heart - cardiac plexus
Oesophagus
Origin of left recurrent laryngeal nerve
Left vagus close to aortic arch, loops under it