Anatomy Of The Normal Mediastinum And Thoracic Inlet

Question 1

Contents of the anterior mediastinum

Answer 1

Internal mammary vessels

Internal mammary and prevascular lymph nodes

Thymus

Question 2

Where does the thymus lies?

Answer 2

In the prevascular space, which is continuous with the retrosternal space anteriorly.

It lies immediately anterior to the superior vena cava, aortic arch and great vessels, the main pulmonary artery, and, more inferiorly, the heart.

Question 3

What structure occupies the posterior aspect of the prevascular space at the level of the root of the great vessels?

Answer 3

The right and left braciocephalic veins

Question 4

What are the four middle mediastinal space?

Answer 4

Right paratracheal space
Pretracheal space
Retrotracheal space
Aortopulmonary window

Question 5

This space is seen between the trachea posteriorly and the posterior margin of the ascending aorta anteriorly and is contiguous with the precarinal space inferiorly.

Answer 5

Pretracheal space

Question 6

The pretracheal space contains what structures?

Answer 6

Fat, lymph nodes, and the retroaortic portion of the superior pericardial recess

Question 7

Its is the anatomic route used during routine transcervical mediastinoscopy.

Answer 7

Pretracheal space

Question 8

This space varies in AP dimension, depending upon the degree of invagination of the RUL behind the upper trachea.

Answer 8

Retrotracheal space

Question 9

What are the borders of the aortopulmonary window?

Answer 9

Superiorly = aortic arch

Inferiorly = left pulmonary artery

Medially = the distal trachea, left main bronchus, and esophagus

Laterally = mediastinal pleural surface of the LUL

Anteriorly = posterior surface of the ascending aorta

Posteriorly = anterior surface of the proximal descending aorta

Question 10

What are the contents of the aortapulmonary window?

Answer 10

Fat, lymph nodes, the ligamentum arteriosum, and the left recurrent laryngeal nerve

Question 11

Contents of the posterior mediastinum

Answer 11

Descending aorta
Esophagus
Azygos and hemiazygos veins
Thoracic duct
Sympathetic ganglia and intercostal nerves
Lymph nodes