Mediastinal Structures Flashcards
What is the mediastinum?
The partition between the two pleural cavities and lungs
What are the two subdivisions of the mediastinum?
Superior mediastinum and inferior mediastinum
What are the three divisions of the inferior mediastinum?
Anterior
middle and posterior mediastinum
Where is the superior mediastinum?
Bounded anteriorly by the manubrium of the sternum and posteriorly by the bodies of T1 to T4 vertebrae
What are the contents of the superior mediastinum?
Thymus
Left brachiocephalic vein
Right brachiocephalic vein
Superior vena cava
How are the veins of the superior mediastinum located?
The two brachiocephalic veins unite to form the superior vena cava
What is the difference in shapes between the left and right brachiocephalic vein?
The left vein is longer and more oblique
The right is more vertical
Where are the aortic branches located?
Superior mediastinum
What are the three aortic branches?
Left common carotid
Left subclavian
Brachiocephalic
Where does the phrenic nerve originate?
C3-C5
Where is the phrenic and vagus nerves related to the root of the lung?
Phrenic nerve is anterior
Vagus nerve is posterior
Where is the left recurrent laryngeal nerve?
Located in the superior mediastinum
Where is the anterior mediastinum located?
Posterior to body of sternum and attached costal cartilages, anterior to heart and pericardium
What are the contents of the anterior mediastinum?
Fat
Remnants of thymus glands
Anterior mediastinal lymph nodes
Where is the location of the middle mediastinum?
Between anterior and mediastinum and posterior mediastinum
What are the contents of the middle mediastinum?
Heart and pericardium Beginning or termination of great vessels Phrenic nerves Pericardiacophrenic vesels Lymph nodes
Where is the posterior mediastinum located?
Posterior to heart and pericardium - anterior to vetebrae T5-T12
What does the posterior mediastinum contain?
Contains 4 tubular structures Oesphagus Thoracic aorta Thoracic duct Azygous venous system
What is the thoracic aorta?
Continuation of the aortic arch at lower border T4
What is the route of the thoracic aorta?
Courses downward on left side of, then in front of the vertebral column
Passes through the aortic hiatus of diaphragm at level of T12 vertebra to enter abdominal cavity
What are the two main branches of the thoracic aorta?
Parietal branches and visceral branches
What is meant by parietal?
The wall
What is meant by visceral?
to the organ
What makes up the parietal branches of the thoracic aorta?
Nine pairs of the posterior intercostal arteries
One pair subcostal artery
What makes up the visceral branches of the thoracic aorta?
Bronchial branches: one or two for each lung
Oesphageal and pericardial branches
What forms the brachiocephalic vein and where?
Formed by the union of internal jugular and subclavian veins posterior to the sternoclavicular joint
What is the angle of union of the brachiocephalic veins known as?
Venous angle
What forms the superior vena cava and where?
Formed by the union of right and left brachiocephalic veins behind the right sternocostal joint of the first rib
Where does the superior vena cava run?
Runs vertically down on the right of the acending aorta
Where does the azgous vein join the superior vena cava?
Level of sternal angle
Where does the SVC enter the right atrium?
Enters at the lower border of the third right sternocostal joint
What is the role of the SVC?
Collects blood from veins of upper half of the body