Mediastinum Flashcards
anterior boundary of superior mediastinum
manubrium
posterior boundary of superior mediastinum
bodies of T1-T4
great vessels found in the superior mediastinum
- arch of the aorta
- ligamentum arteriosum
- brachiocephalic veins
- superior vena cava
- cardiac plexus
where is the arch of the aorta
at level of manubriosternal joint
what three arteries arise from the upper convexity of the arch of the aorta
the brachiocephalic trunk, and the left common carotid and left subclavian arteries
what does the adventitial layer of the arch contain
baroreceptors innervated by vagal nerve fibres - reflex control of heart rate
what is found under the arch
he aortic bodies (also supplied by vagal fibres) - chemoreceptors concerned with respiratory reflexes.
brachiocephalic trunk pathway
arises in midline → up across trachea → back of right sternoclavicular joint → divides into right common carotid and right subclavian arteries
branches of braciocephalic trunk
No branches apart from the thyroidea ima artery - arises from it or directly from the arch of the aorta
left common carotid artery pathway
Left common carotid artery: arises behind brachiocephalic trunk → straight up along side trachea → neck
branches of left common carotid artery
none in mediastinum
left subclvian artery pathway
arises behind left common carotid → straight up along trachea → moves away from left common carotid behind left sternoclavicular joint
left subclavian artery branches
none in the mediastinum
ligamentum arteriosum pathway
- Beginning of left pulmonary artery → concavity of the aortic arch beyond subclavian artery
- It lies almost horizontally
where are the brachiocephalic veins formed
behind the sternoclavicular joints by confluence of the internal jugular and subclavian veins.
four tributaries of the brachiocephalic vein
- vertebral
- inferior thyroid
- internal thoracic
- superior intercostal (only on left side)
where does the right brachiocephalic vein commence
behind the right sternoclavicular joint and runs downwards
what lymphatics are received by the right brachiocephalic veins
the right jugular, subclavian and bronchomediastinal lymph trunks separately or their confluent channel, the right lymphatic duct.
left brachiocephalic vein pathway
passes to the right with a downward inclination → across the superior mediastinum → above the arch of the aorta → behind the thymus and the upper half of the manubrium
what does the commencement of the left brachiocephalic vein receive
- the thoracic duct, which often divides into two or three branches that join the vein separately
- the vertebral and internal thoracic veins, most of the inferior thyroid veins, the left superior intercostal vein, and a large thymic vein
superior vena cava pathway
Lower border of first right costal cartilage → vertically downwards → behind the right border of the sternum → pierces pericardium at the level of the second costal cartilage → upper border of the right atrium at the lower border of the third right costal cartilage
does the inferior vena cava have valves
no