Mediastinum Flashcards

1
Q

what does the superior mediastinum contain

A

neural, vascular and respiratory structures passing from the adjacent regions of the neck and abdomen

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2
Q

what extra structure does the superior mediastinum contain in children

A

the thymus

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3
Q

what is the function of the thymus

A

development and maintenance of the immune system

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4
Q

what happens to the thymus after childhood

A

involutes after puberty and is replaced by fatty tissue

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5
Q

where is the thymus located

A

in the lower part of the neck and superior park of the superior mediastinum. posterior to the mediastinum

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6
Q

where can the thymus extend to in children

A

the anterior mediastinum to lie anterior to the pericardium

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7
Q

what is the blood supply of the thymus

A

the internal thoracic arteries

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8
Q

what is the venous drainage of the thymus

A

the internal thoracic and R and L brachiocephalic veins

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9
Q

where are the great systemic blood vessels of the heart generally located

A

within the superior mediastinum

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10
Q

name the great vessels

A
  • arch of aorta
  • pulmonary trunk
  • SVC
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11
Q

what are the main tributaries to the SVC in the superior mediastinum

A

-brachiocephalic vein
-left superior intercostal vein
- supreme intercostal vein
- azygos vein

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12
Q

what does the brachiocephalic vein drain

A

blood from the upper body

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13
Q

what does the left superior intercostal vein do

A

collects blood from the left 2nd and 3rd intercostal vein. it drains into the left brachiocephalic vein

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14
Q

what does the supreme intercostal vein drain

A

drains the vein from first intercostal space directly into the brachiocephalic veins

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15
Q

what does the azygos vein drain

A

receiving blood from the right posterior intercostal veins

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16
Q

what does SVC return blood from

A

all structures superior to the diaphragm except for the lungs and heart

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17
Q

what is the accessory hemiazygos vein formed by

A

the union of the 4th to 7th posterior intercostal veins; empties into the azygos vein

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18
Q

where does the accessory hemiazygos vein run

A

superiorly in the lower thoracic region, to the left side of the vertebral column

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19
Q

where does the pulmonary trunk exit from

A

the right ventricle

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20
Q

where is the pulmonary trunk located

A

anteriorly to the aorta and it moves medially and posteriorly

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21
Q

what does the pulmonary trunk bifurcate into

A

the right and left pulmonary arteries

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22
Q

where is the right pulmonary artery located

A

posterior to the ascending aorta

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23
Q

where does the ascending aorta begin

A

at the aortic orifice of the left ventricle

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24
Q

what does the aorta branch into

A

the left and right coronary arteries

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25
Q

what are the 3 branches of the aorta in the superior mediastinum

A

brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid artery, left subclavian artery

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26
Q

what does the brachiocephalic artery supply

A

right side of the head and neck and the right upper limb

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27
Q

what does the left common carotid artery supply

A

the left side of the head and neck, closer to the midline

28
Q

what does the left subclavian artery supply

A

the left upper limb

29
Q

what splits the ascending aorta

A

the sternal angle

30
Q

what are the 2 paths of the vagus nerve

A

-right vagus nerve runs parallel to the trachea and passes posteriorly to the SVC and the right primary bronchus
- the left vagus nerve enters the superior mediastinum between the left common carotid and the left subclavian arteries. it descends anteriorly to the aortic arch, before traveling posterior to the left bronchus

31
Q

where is the right recurrent laryngeal nerve located

A

hooks around the right subclavian artery and ascends between the trachea and esophagus to the right side of the larynx
- spatially related to the apex of the right lung

32
Q

where is the left recurrent laryngeal nerve located

A

arises from the left vagus nerve as it hooks around the aortic arch. it loops under the arch to the left of ligamentum arteriosum before continuing to the larynx in the tracheal-esophageal groove
-spatially related to the lymph nodes of the aortic arch

33
Q

where is the vagus nerve located in relation vessels in the neck and which vessels

A

in between the common carotid and internal jugular

34
Q

what do the left and right vagus nerve give off

A

parasympathetic branches that contribute to the cardiac and pulmonary plexuses

35
Q

how do the vagus nerve branches come together to form the esophageal plexus

A

the nerves pass behind the main bronchi to converge on the esophagus

36
Q

where are the anterior and posterior vagal trunks located

A

superior to the diaphragm, the plexuses from the vagus nerves give rise to the two vagal trunks

37
Q

what do the recurrent laryngeal nerves come off of

A

the vagus nerve

38
Q

what do the recurrent laryngeal nerves innervate

A

all muscles in the larynx except for one

39
Q

what can injury to the laryngeal nerves result in (symptoms)

A

unproductive cough, weakened voice, loss of voice, and problems in respiratory tract

40
Q

what is the ligamentum arteriosum

A

a fibrous remnant of the ductus arteriosus extending between the aortic arch and the pulmonary trunk

41
Q

what is the ductus arteriosus

A

a fetal blood vessel that connects the left pulmonary artery to the descending aorta

42
Q

what is the function of the ductus arteriosus in utero

A

serves as a bypass for the lungs

43
Q

what is patent ductus arteriosus

A

the ductus arteriosus doesnt close after birth and oxygenated blood keeps getting mixed with deoxygenated blood

44
Q

where is the phrenic nerve located

A

from the anterior surface of the anterior scalene muscle, the phrenic nerves enter the mediastinum lateral to the great vessels and descend anteriorly into the middle mediastinum, passing anteriorly to the hilum of the lungs

45
Q

what type of innervation does the phrenic nerve supply and to where

A

motor innervation to the diaphragm and sensory to mediastinal and diaphragmatic pleura

46
Q

where are the cardiac nerves located and what do they form

A

they originate from the superior, middle and inferior cardiac ganglia and form the superficial and deep cardiac plexuses in the superior mediastinum

47
Q

where is the superior plexus located

A

sits between the aortic arch and right pulmonary vein

48
Q

where is the deep plexus located

A

lies on the surface of the trachea at the point of bifurcation

49
Q

where is the sympathetic trunk located

A

runs bilaterally to the vertebral bodies along the entire length of the vertebral column

50
Q

where is the trachea located

A

anterior to the esophagus

51
Q

where does the trachea end

A

at the level of the sternal angle

52
Q

what does the trachea divide into

A

the left and right primary bronchi

53
Q

what is in the posterior mediastinum

A

-oesophagus
- descdneing thoracic aorta
-thoracic duct
-azygos and hemiazygos veins
-sympathetic trunk

54
Q

where does the thoracic aorta begin

A

inferior border of T4

55
Q

where does the thoracic aorta descend

A

on the left side of the T5-T12 vertebrae

56
Q

when does the thoracic aorta become the abdominal aorta

A

when it passes through the aortic hiatus

57
Q

what does the thoracic aorta supply

A

intercostal spaces and thoracic viscera (bronchial a, esophageal a, mediastinal a, superior phrenic a, and some pericardiophrenic

58
Q

what is the location of the esophagus

A

posterior to the arch of aorta, pericardium/LA

59
Q

where are the vagal trunks in the esophagus

A

anterior and posterior vagal trunks

60
Q

what is the largest lymphatic channel in the body

A

the thoracic duct

61
Q

where is the thoracic duct located

A

originates in the cisterna chyli in the abdomen and ascends through the posterior and superior mediastina to drain into the union of the left internal jugular and subclavian veins

62
Q

what does the thoracic duct drain

A

lymph from the whole body except for the right side of the head and neck, the right upper limb, and the right side of the thorax and upper surface of the liver

63
Q

where does everything else drain that is not drained by the thoracic duct

A

right jugular, subclavian, and bronchomediastinal trunks which enter the veins on the right side of the neck as the right lymphatic duct

64
Q

where do the superficial tissues of the chest wall drain lymph

A

into the axillary and internal thoracic nodes

65
Q

where do the deeper tissues drain lymph into

A

internal thoracic, intercostal, and diaphragmatic nodes, and then the thoracic duct

66
Q

where does the heart drain lymph into

A

lymphatic vessels that follow the coronary arteries and ultimately drain to the inferior tracheobronchial nodes

67
Q

what do deep lymphatics of the lungs follow

A

air passages