Mediastinum and Great Vessels Flashcards
Where does the arch of the aorta begin?
Posterior to R 2nd sternocostal joint at sternal angle
What are the branches of the aorta?
Brachiocephalic
Common carotid
Subclavian
What does the brachiocephalic artery branch into?
Right common carotid
Right subclavian artery
What is the position of the descending aorta?
T4-T12
slightly left of midline
What are the branches of the descending aorta?
Pericardial bronchial oesophageal mediastinal POSTERIOR INTERCOSTAL SUPERIOR PHRENIC SUBCOSTAL Perfect bananas open marvellously by pulling skin smoothly
Relate the parts of the aorta to their position in the mediastinum
Ascending arch = middle mediastinum
Aortic arch = superior mediastinum
Descending aorta = posterior mediastinum
Ligamentum arteriosus
remnant of ductus arteriosus, which shunts blood away from lungs in fetal circulation as they collapsed in utero
connects aorta and pulm artery-when becomes ligamentum arteriosus, prevents O2 and deO2 blood mixing
Coarctation of aorta
congenital condition where the aorta narrows (stenosis) in the area where the ductus arteriosus inserts
- often distal to left subclavian –> decreases BP at legs, but increases BP at upper limbs-more blood going to common carotid and subclavian arteries
- lower pressure distal to narrowing, higher pressure proximal to narrowing
From which veins is the SVC made from?
L+R brachioceohalic at cc1
What is the brachiocephalic vein made from?
subclavian and internal jugular veins behind sternoclavicular joint
Which brachiocephalic vein is longer and why?
left is twice as long as right as courses from left to right side, passing ant to root of branches of arch of aorta.
-shunts blood from the head, neck and upper limb to RA
Where does the SVC enter the heart?
RA behind r cc3
Where does the SVC return blood from back to the heart?
all structures superior to the diaphragm, not inc heart and lungs
Where does the SVC lie in the mediastinum?
Superior mediastinum, anterolateral to the trachea and posterolateral to the aascending aorta
-terminal half of SVC is in the middle mediastinum, adj to the asc aorta and forms posterior border of the transverse pericardial sinus
Route of the Right Azgos Vein
Originates from L1-L2
Ascends through aortic hiatus T12
Ascends through thoracic wall lateral to thoracic duct
Joins SVC at T4
Route of the Left Hemi-Azygos Vein
Originates from L1-L2
Ascends through aortic hiatus T12
Ascends to T9 and crosses vertebral column
Joins Azygos vein at T9
Route of Left Accessory Hemi-Azygos Vein
Originates from superior posterior mediastinum
Descends to T8 and crosses vertebral column
Joins azygos vein at T8
At what spinal level do the vena cava and right phrenic nerve pierce the diaphragm?
T8
At what spinal level does the oesophagus and vagus nerve pierce the diaphragm?
T10
At what spinal level does the aortic hiatus, thoracic duct and azygos system pierce the diaphragm?
T12
What pierces the diaphragm at T8?
Vena cava
R phrenic nerve
What pierces the diaphragm at T10?
Oesophagus
Vagus nerve
What pierces the diaphragm at T12?
aortic hiatus
thoracic duct
azygos system
What sort of pain can irritation of the phrenic nerve cause?
Referred pain to shoulder - C3-C5 innervate dermatomes around shoulders