Mediastinum

Question 1

The sternal angle is the anterior aspect of the transverse thoracic plane. What is the posterior aspect?

Answer 1

The IV disc between the bodies of T4 and T5

Question 2

At the level of the arch, is the trachea anterior or posterior to the aorta (the arch that is)

Answer 2

Posterior

Question 3

At what level does the aorta arch and trachea bifurcate?

Answer 3

Transverse thoracic plane

Question 4

What are the contents of the superior mediastinum from anterior to posterior?

Answer 4

Thymus, Great Vessels (SVC posterolateral to ascending aorta, lateral to arch of aorta), Trachea, Esophagus, Thoracic duct and lymphatic trunks

Question 5

What anchors the arch of the aorta to the pulmonary trunk?

Answer 5

Ligamentum arteriosum

Question 6

What do the left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves loop around respectively

Answer 6

Left - Arch of Aorta, Right - Right subclavian artery

Question 7

Do vagus nerves run anterior or posterior to roots of the lungs?

Answer 7

Posterior

Question 8

What do the left and right vagus nerves respectively become?

Answer 8

The anterior and posterior vagal trunk respectively (anterior and posterior to esophagus)

Question 9

What two structures is the cardiac plexus related to?

Answer 9

Posterior aspect of ascending aorta, posterior aspect of bifurcation of pulmonary trunk

Question 10

What structures do the pulmonary plexuses follow into the lung?

Answer 10

The main bronchi

Question 11

In the thoracic cavity are phrenic nerves anterior or posterior, and medial or lateral relative to vagus nerves?

Answer 11

Anterior and lateral

Question 12

Do phrenic nerves run anterior or posterior to the roots of the lungs?

Answer 12

Anterior

Question 13

What types of fibers to phrenic nerves carry through the thorax and to where?

Answer 13

Sensory fibers to pericardium and sensory and motor fibers to the diaphragm

Question 14

Where do phrenic nerves descend through the inferior mediastinum?

Answer 14

Between mediastinal pleura and the pericardium (on anterior surface of pericardium)

Question 15

What are the contents of the posterior mediastinum?

Answer 15

Thoracic aorta, Thoracic duct and lymph trunks, Posterior mediastinal lymph nodes, Azygos and hemiazygos veins, Esophagus and esophageal plexuses, Thoracic sympathetic trunks, Thoracic splanchnic nerves

Question 16

What are the branches of the thoracic aorta?

Answer 16

Esophageal aa, Bronchia aa, Posterior intercostal aa, Subcostal aa, Superior phrenic aa, Pericardial branches, Mediastinal aa

Question 17

At what vertebral level do the aorta, esophagus, and IVC respectively cross the diaphgram?

Answer 17

T12 (aortic hiatus), T10 (esophageal hiatus), T8 (caval opening)

Question 18

What three neighboring structures produce esophageal constrictions?

Answer 18

Cricoid cartilage (esophageal inlet), Arch of Aorta, and Diaphragm

Question 19

The thoracic duct runs between what two structures?

Answer 19

The cisterna chyli and left venous angle (intersection of left internal jugular and subclavian veins, commencement of left brachiocephalic vein)

Question 20

Where are the posterior mediastinal lymph nodes, from where do they receive lymph, and to where do they drain?

Answer 20

Related to esophagus and thoracic aorta (just anterior to aorta), collect lymph from esophagus, posterior pericardium, diaphragm, drain to thoracic duct

Question 21

From what veins do the azygos and hemiazygos veins arise?

Answer 21

R Ascending Lumbar vein (Azygos), Left Renal and Left Lumbar veins (Hemiazygos)

Question 22

What are the three thoracic splanchnic nerves and where is each?

Answer 22

Greater (T5-T9), lesser (T10-T11), least (T12)