Mediastinum

Question 1

What bounds the mediastinum anteriorly, posteriorly and laterally?

Answer 1

anteriorly by the sternum, posteriorly by the 12 thoracic vertebrae,
and laterally by the pleural cavities

Question 2

The mediastinum is continuous with the neck through which structure

Answer 2

Thoracic outlet

Question 3

The mediastinum is closed inferiorly by which structure

Answer 3

Diaphragm

Question 4

The mediastinum is divided into superior and inferior mediastina by which structure

Answer 4

Sternal angle (of Louis)

Question 5

The anterior mediastinum contains part of which gland

Answer 5

inferior part of the thymus gland

Question 6

Four vertical structures that course through the posterior mediastinum

Answer 6

Thoracic (descending) aorta, esophagus, thoracic duct and azygos system of veins

Question 7

What are the important branches of the Thoracic (descending) aorta

Answer 7

bronchial, esophageal, and posterior

intercostal arteries

Question 8

The azygos system of veins forms collateral venous circulation between which vessels

Answer 8

inferior and superior vena cava

Question 9

The middle mediastinum contains which structures

Answer 9

heart and great vessels and pericardium

Question 10

The superior mediastinum contain which structures

Answer 10

Thymus, Right and left brachiocephalic veins, aortic arch, trachea, esophagus, vagus and phrenic nerves thoracic duct, superior vena cava

(BATS & TENTS)

Question 11

The posterior mediastinum contains which structures

Answer 11

Descending aorta, azygos veins, thoracic duct, esophagus and sympathetic chain (splanchnic, greater, lesser and least)

(DATES)

Question 12

List the retrosternal structures in mediastinum

Answer 12

• Origin of sterno-thyroid and sternohyoid muscles. • Thymus gland
• Right and left brachiocephalic vein and upper part of superior vena cava
• Left superior intercostal vein

Question 13

What are the three branches of the arch of aorta

Answer 13

brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid and left subclavian artery

Question 14

Which section of the mediastinum is the bifurcation of the trachea

Answer 14

Superior medastinum

Question 15

true of false:

The left recurrent laryngeal nerve is in the anterior mediastinum

Answer 15

False. It is in the superior mediastinum

Question 16

Enlargement of which mediastinial structure, if enlarged, can potentially compress the SVC, trachea and esophagus?

Answer 16

Thymus

Question 17

Contents of the anterior mediastinum

Answer 17

• Superior and inferior sternopericardial ligaments
• Mediastinal branches of internal thoracic artery
• Few lymph nodes

Question 18

Contents of the middle mediastinum

Answer 18

• Pericardium enclosing heart
• Ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk
• Four pulmonary veins
• Lower part of SVC
• Arch of azygos vein
• Deep cardiac plexus
• Phrenic nerve and
• Pericardiaphrenic vessels

Question 19

What are the longitudinal structures in the posterior mediastinum

Answer 19

Oesophagus Descending aorta Azygos and hemiazygos veins
Thoracic duct
Vagus nerves Splanchnic nerves Posterior mediastinal lymph nodes

Question 20

What are the transverse structures in the posterior mediastinum

Answer 20

Termination of superior and inferior hemiazygos veins
Deviation of thoracic duct
Posterior intercostal arteries and veins

Question 21

Which thoracic vertebrae do the esophageal constrictions correlate to

Answer 21

C6 (cricopharyngeus)
T4 (left bronchus and arch of aorta)
T10 (diaphragm)

Question 22

Which thoracic vertebra correlates to the beginning and end of the thoracic aorta

Answer 22

Begins and T4 and ends at T12

Question 23

What is the anatomical relation of the thoracic aorta to the vertebral column and it descends in the thorax

Answer 23

It run to the left of the vertebra then and it get lower it moves anterior to the vertbera.

Question 24

What are the anatomical relations of the following to the vertebra:

1. Azygos vein
2. Hemiazygos veins (superior and inferior)

Answer 24

1. Azygos veins run on the right side of the vertebra

2. Hemiazygos veins run on the left side

Question 25

Which vein does the azygos vein drain into

Answer 25

SVC

Question 26

Azygos veins drain blood from where?

Answer 26

each side of the body that drain blood from the body wall

Question 27

Azygos veins forms a collateral pathway between which two main vessels

Answer 27

SVC and IVC

Question 28

From which structure does the thoracic duct originate

Answer 28

cisterna chyli (T12)

Question 29

Thoracic duct empties in to the venous system near the union of

Answer 29

the left internal jugular and subclavian vein, the left venous angle.