Mediastinum Flashcards
What does the trachealis muscle do?
-constricts the trachea, allowing air to be expelled at a greater force. ie coughing
At what surface marker does the trachea divide into right and left main beonchi?
-Sternal angle
What is the division of the right and left bronchus called?
-Carina
What is contained within the anterior mediastinum compartment?
- loose connective tissue
- fat
- lymphatic vessels
- branches of internal thoracic artery & anterior intercostal arteries
What is contained within the middle mediastinum compartment?
-the heart
What is contained within the posterior mediastinum compartment?
- Descending thoracic aorta
- veins
- esophagus
- lymphatics (thoracic duct)
What arteries branch off from the descending aorta in the mediastinum?
- esophageal arteries (unpaired)
- Bronchial arteries (Paired)
- Posterior intercostal arteries (paired)
What drains into the azygous system?
-posterior intercostal veins
Where does the thoracic lymph duct empty?
-left subclavian vein
What are the components of the Autonomic nervous supply to the posterior mediastinum?
- Thoracic sympathetic trunks (thoracic splanchnic nerves)
- Esophageal plexus
Where are the preganglionic sympathetic cell bodies located in the spinal cord?
-intermediolateral cell column
What are the two places where postganglionic sympathetic cell bodies live?
- Paravertebral ganglion
- prevertebral ganglion in plexus
What are the 4 possible fates of preganglionic fibers that enter the sympathetic chain via the white rami communicantes?
- ascent do synapse higher in chain
- descend to synapse lower in chain
- synapse in that ganglion
- pass through without synapsing to reach a prevertebral ganglion
What is a thoracentesis?
-insertion of a hypodermic needle through an intercostal space to remove fluid or pus from the pleural cavity
Where is the needle inserted to perform a thoracentesis?
- 9th intercostal space ABOVE the rib at midaxillary line
- during expiration
