Final Gross - The Superior and Posterior Mediastinum Flashcards
This is the median space between 2 pleural sacs
mediastinum
What are the boarders of the mediastinum
extends from thoracic inlet to diaphragm
sternum to 12th thoracic vertebrae
This is located most anterior in the superior mediastinum
thymus gland
What blood vessels are found in the superior midiastinum
SVC right and left brachiocephalic vein arch of the aorta brachiocephalic trunk left common carotid artery left subclavian artery
What nerves are found in the superior mediastinum
right and left vagus
right and left phrenic
left recurrent laryngeal
What structures are found in the superior mediastinum
trachea
esophagus
thoracic duct
This structure is prominent and active during childhood and prior to puberty, and is functionally inactive and atrophies in adults; may be a fatty mass
thymus
This vein converges at right margin of the manubrium becoming the SVC
brachiocephalic
The left brachiocephalic crosses the trachea anterior or posterior?
anterior; and it crosses all major vessels too
What vertebrae level is the aortic arch
T4-T5
What structures does the aorta arch over
left pulmonary artery
left main bronchus
What great arteries does the aorta give rise to
brachiocephalic trunk
left common carotid
left subclavian
This enters the thorax between subclavian vein and artery descending posterior to the root of the lung
vagus nerve
What type of innervation does vagus supply
parasympathetic innervation to thorax (and abdomen)
This enters the thorax between the subclavian artery and vein descending anterior to the root of the lung
phrenic nerve
What type of innervation does phrenic supply
somatic innervation to the diaphragm
At what vertebral level does the trachea bifurcate at
inferior limit of the superior mediastinum
T4/T5
What is the bifurcation point of the trachea called and what is found there
carina
numerous lymph nodes
Where do foreign bodies usually aspirate into and why
right main bronchus
it is shorter and wider than the left main bronchus
right is more vertically orientated
carina is usually positioned more left of midline