Lab 8 Superior and Posterior Mediastinum Flashcards
What fascia is deep to the costal pleura?
endothoracic fascia
What is found anterior to the root of the lung between the mediastinal pleura and the pericardium?
phrenic nerves and pericardicophrenic vessels
The pericardium is the sac for the heart and has an internal serous portion forming __ layer(s) plus anexternal fibrous portion yielding __ total layers.
2
3
The heart is covered by a ___ layer of ________ (epicardium) and the interior of the pericardiac sac is lined with the __________. These two layers are continuous ___ to the heart at the great vessels.
visceral layer of serous pericardium
parietal layer of serous pericardium
posterior
The external portion of the pericardial sac is the ______.
fibrous pericardium
The oblique pericardial sinus is found between the _____. The transverse pericardial sinus is found between the _____.
oblique- pulmonary veins
transverse- ascending aorta and superior vena cava
What can be used to generally divide the superior/inferior mediastina? (not accurately)
pericardial reflection
How many pulmonary veins form the boundary of the oblique sinus?
4
Boundaries of the superior mediastinum: superior: posterior: anterior: lateral: inferior:
s: superior thoracic aperture
p: bodies of thoracic vertebra 1-4
a: manubrium of sternum
l: mediastinal pleurae with left and right pulmonary cavities
i: plane of the sternal angle (sternomanubrial junction to T4, aka transverse thoracic plane)
What is the fatty mass of tissue that lies immediately posterior to the manubrium of the sternum?
adult version of the thymus
Tracing the superior vena cava superiorly you will find the convergence of the ___ and ____ near the inferior border of the right _____.
left and right brachiocephalic veins
1st costal cartilage
The ____ is found superior to the root of the lung and drains into the posterior surface of the SVC.
arch of the azygos vein
What passes posterior to the brachiocephalic veins and anterior to the root of the lung?
R and L phrenic nerves
What projects posterior to the left, obliquely?
arch of the aorta
What are the 3 arteries that arise from the arch of the aorta? Locations of each?
brachiocephalic trunk- most anterior and right (bifurcates to right common carotid and right subclavian)
left common carotid- intermediate
left subclavian- most posterior and left
What is between the concavity of the arch of the aorta and the left pulmonary artery?
ligamentum arteriosum
What nerve is on the left/anterior side of the arch of the aorta? What is the branch of this nerve that curls along the inferior surface of the arch of the aorta (just left of the ligamentum arteriosum) to ascend into the neck?
left vagus nerve
left recurrent laryngeal nerve
In cases of mediastinal tumors or an aneurysm of the aortic arch, the ______ nerve may be compressed leading to _____.
left recurrent laryngeal nerve
hoarseness (paralysis of the left vocal fold)
Phrenic nerves are more ____ than vagus nerves.
lateral
What nerve can be followed inferiorly, posterior to the root of the left lung toward the esophagus?
left vagus nerve