Heart and Mediastinum Flashcards
What is the superior boundry of the mediastinum?
thoracic inlet
What is the inferior boundary of the mediastinum?
diaphragm
What is the anterior boundary of the mediastinum?
- sternum
- costal cartilages
What is the posterior boundary of the mediastinum?
thoracic vertebrae
What is the lateral boundary of the mediastinum?
pleura
What cavities make up the thoracic cavity?
- mediastinum
- pleural cavity
- pericardial cavity
What makes up the abdominopelvic cavity?
- abdominal cavity
- pelvic cavity
What structures are found in the superior portion of the mediastinum?
- great vessels of heart
- thoracic duct
- parts of azygos system
- R and L vagus nerve (recuttent laryngeal nerves)
- pulmonary
- esophageal and cardiac autonomic nerve plexuses
- thymus
- parts of trachea and esophagus
What is found in the anterior portion of the inferior mediastinum?
- fat
- lymph tissue
- vessels
- thymus (in small children may extend into this region)
What is found in the middle part of the inferior mediastinum?
- heart and it’s pericardial tissues
What is found in the posterior portion of the inferior mediastinum?
- thoracic aorta
- esophagus
- pulmonary arteries and veins
- azygos system
- thoracic duct
- sympathetic trunk
- thoracic splanchnic nerves
Where does the thoracic duct drain into?
The left bifurcation of the left brachiocephalic vein.
Where does the right lymphatic duct drain into?
The right bifurcation of the right brachiocephalic vein
What embryologic structure does the left recurrent laryngeal nerve run behind?
ligamentum arteriosum
