Mediastinum Flashcards
What bounds the mediastinum anteriorly, posteriorly and laterally?
anteriorly by the sternum, posteriorly by the 12 thoracic vertebrae,
and laterally by the pleural cavities
The mediastinum is continuous with the neck through which structure
Thoracic outlet
The mediastinum is closed inferiorly by which structure
Diaphragm
The mediastinum is divided into superior and inferior mediastina by which structure
Sternal angle (of Louis)
The anterior mediastinum contains part of which gland
inferior part of the thymus gland
Four vertical structures that course through the posterior mediastinum
Thoracic (descending) aorta, esophagus, thoracic duct and azygos system of veins
What are the important branches of the Thoracic (descending) aorta
bronchial, esophageal, and posterior
intercostal arteries
The azygos system of veins forms collateral venous circulation between which vessels
inferior and superior vena cava
The middle mediastinum contains which structures
heart and great vessels and pericardium
The superior mediastinum contain which structures
Thymus, Right and left brachiocephalic veins, aortic arch, trachea, esophagus, vagus and phrenic nerves thoracic duct, superior vena cava
(BATS & TENTS)
The posterior mediastinum contains which structures
Descending aorta, azygos veins, thoracic duct, esophagus and sympathetic chain (splanchnic, greater, lesser and least)
(DATES)
List the retrosternal structures in mediastinum
- 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
What are the three branches of the arch of aorta
brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid and left subclavian artery
Which section of the mediastinum is the bifurcation of the trachea
Superior medastinum
true of false:
The left recurrent laryngeal nerve is in the anterior mediastinum
False. It is in the superior mediastinum
Enlargement of which mediastinial structure, if enlarged, can potentially compress the SVC, trachea and esophagus?
Thymus
Contents of the anterior mediastinum
- Superior and inferior sternopericardial ligaments
- Mediastinal branches of internal thoracic artery
- Few lymph nodes
Contents of the middle mediastinum
- 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
What are the longitudinal structures in the posterior mediastinum
Oesophagus Descending aorta Azygos and hemiazygos veins
Thoracic duct
Vagus nerves Splanchnic nerves Posterior mediastinal lymph nodes
What are the transverse structures in the posterior mediastinum
Termination of superior and inferior hemiazygos veins
Deviation of thoracic duct
Posterior intercostal arteries and veins
Which thoracic vertebrae do the esophageal constrictions correlate to
C6 (cricopharyngeus)
T4 (left bronchus and arch of aorta)
T10 (diaphragm)
Which thoracic vertebra correlates to the beginning and end of the thoracic aorta
Begins and T4 and ends at T12
What is the anatomical relation of the thoracic aorta to the vertebral column and it descends in the thorax
It run to the left of the vertebra then and it get lower it moves anterior to the vertbera.
What are the anatomical relations of the following to the vertebra:
- Azygos vein
- Hemiazygos veins (superior and inferior)
- Azygos veins run on the right side of the vertebra
2. Hemiazygos veins run on the left side
