Cardiovascular Anatomy

Question 1

The mediastinum is

Answer 1

The part of the thoracic cavity that lies between the lungs

Question 2

The mediastinum extends from the

Answer 2

• superior thoracic aperture superiorly to the diaphragm inferiorly
• sternum anteriorly to the thoracic vertebrae posteriorly

Question 3

The mediastinum contains:

Answer 3

• The heart and pericardium
• The great vessels that enter and leave the heart
• The veins that drain the chest wall
• The trachea and main bronchi
• The oesophagus
• Nerves - somatic and autonomic
• Lymphatics
• The thymus gland

Question 4

The mediastinum is divided into

Answer 4

a superior and inferior compartment

Question 5

The line between these compartments run from

Answer 5

the sternal angle anteriorly to the T4/T5 junction posteriorly

Question 6

The inferior mediastinum is further divided into

Answer 6

anterior, middle and posterior compartments

Question 7

The anterior mediastinum

Answer 7

• lies between the posterior aspect of the sternum and anterior aspect of the pericardial sac
• is a narrow space that contains the thymus gland in children and its remnant in adults

Question 8

The middle mediastinum contains

Answer 8

the heart inside the pericardial sac, the pulmonary trunk and the ascending aorta

Question 9

The posterior mediastinum lies between

Answer 9

the posterior aspect of the pericardial sac and the vertebrae

Question 10

The main contents of superior mediastinum are the

Answer 10

• aortic arch and its three branches
• superior vena cava and left and right brachiocephalic veins
• trachea
• oesophagus
• phrenic nerves and vagus nerves
• thoracic duct
• thymus gland

Question 11

The aorta

Answer 11

leaves the left ventricle and carries oxygenated blood to systemic circulation

Question 12

The ascending aorta

Answer 12

• is the short first part
• gives rise to the coronary arteries

Question 13

The aortic arch

Answer 13

• curves posteriorly
• lies in the superior mediastinum

Question 14

The aortic arch gives rise to which three major branches that supply the upper body?

Answer 14

• the brachiocephalic trunk
• the left common carotid artery
• the left subclavian artery

Question 15

The brachiocephalic trunk

Answer 15

bifurcates into:
- the right common carotid artery which supplies the right side of the head and neck
- the right subclavian artery which supplies the right upper limb

Question 16

The left common carotid artery

Answer 16

supplies the left side of the head, neck and brain

Question 17

The left subclavian artery

Answer 17

supplies the left upper limb

Question 18

The descending thoracic aorta

Answer 18

descends through the posterior mediastinum into the abdomen posterior to the diaphragm

Question 19

Aortic arch contains

Answer 19

aortic bodies

Question 20

What is located in the aortic bodies?

Answer 20

chemoreceptors

Question 21

The ligamentum arteriosum

Answer 21

-a fibrous, cord-like connection between the pulmonary trunk and arch of the aorta
- it is the remnant of the ductus arteriosus

Question 22

The ductus arteriosus

Answer 22

• a foetal circulatory shunt
• diverts most of the blood entering the pulmonary trunk directly to the aortic arch

Question 23

The two large veins carrying blood entering the right atrium

Answer 23

• the superior vena cava
• the inferior vena cava

Question 24

The superior vena cava

Answer 24

• returns blood to the heart from the head, neck and upper limbs
• lies in the superior mediastinum
• formed by the union of the left and right brachiocephalic veins

Question 25

The brachiocephalic vein

Answer 25

formed by the union of the internal jugular vein and the subclavian vein

Question 26

The internal jugular vein

Answer 26

drains the head and the neck

Question 27

The subclavian vein

Answer 27

drains the upper limb

Question 28

The inferior vena cava

Answer 28

returns blood to the heart from all regions inferior to the diaphragm

Question 29

The trachea

Answer 29

- conducts air to and from the left and right main bronchi - semi-rigid as it has C-shaped rings of cartilage in its walls - extends from the larynx in the midline of the neck into the superior mediastinum - terminates at the level of the sternal angle by bifurcating into the left and right main bronchi

Question 30

The oesophagus

Answer 30

- a muscular tube that extends from the pharynx to the stomach - waves of contractions of smooth muscle in the oesophageal wall move food and fluid distally - peristalsis

Question 31

Phrenic nerves

Answer 31

- formed by fibres from C3, C4 and C5 spinal nerves - innervate diaphragm somatic nerves and contain motor and sensory fibres - descend through the neck, enter the thorax through the superior thoracic aperture - course over the pericardium and pierce the diaphragm

Question 32

Vagus nerves

Answer 32

- arise from brainstem - contain somatic sensory, somatic motor and parasympathetic fibres - descend through neck alongside the internal carotid artery and internal vein and enter the thorax via superior thoracic aperture -