Mediastinum and Heart: Content and Organization Flashcards
Boundaries
Posterior: Vertebral column Anterior sternum and cartilage Lateral: pleura inferior: diaphragm Superior: thoracic inlet
Mediastinum: Superior
Great vessels of the heart, thoracic duct (left), (cardiac, pulmonary, esophageal) autonomic nerve plexuses, recurrent laryngeal nerves, esophagus, thymus, azygos system, parts of trachea
mediastinum: Inferior, anterior
Anterior: lymph tissue, fat
Mediastinum: Inferior, posterior
Posterior: pulmonary arteries and veins, thoracic aorta, azygos veins, sympathetic trunk + thoracic splanchnic nerves, thoracic duct
Mediastinum: Inferior, middle
the heart and its pericardial tissues
Vagus and laryngeal recurrent nerves: how and where do they go
RIGHT vagus anterior to brachiocephalic trunk but posterior to R. brachiocephalic vein/L. brachiocephalic vein
LEFT vagus runs anterior to arch of the aorta and posteriorly to the left subclavian vein
LEFT recurrent laryngeal nerve runs posteriorly to arch of the aorta, loops under it and behind the ligamentum arteriosum to connect with the vagus nerve
Considering the midline of the body, where is the heart located?
left of the midline, posterior to sternum, middle of mediastinum
How is the heart positioned in the middle of the mediastinum?
Rotated such that right side (Right atrium and ventricle) is located more anteriorly
left side is located more posteriorly
posteriosuperior surface of the heart =
formed primarily by left atrium, called the base
What vessels enter the left boarder of the base of the heart?
pulmonary veins
the apex points
slightly anteroinferiorly toward left side of the body
posterior spatial relationships between vessels
- pulmonary veins to pulmonary arteries
- pulmonary arteries to aorta
- aorta to brachiocephalic vein
from anterior to posterior to inferior (front of the heart to the back of the heart to the midline of the heart)
- bilateral pairs of pulmonary veins are inferior to pulmonary arteries
- pulmonary arteries are inferior, posterior to arch of the aorta, diverge into L (one vessel) and R (two vessels) on either side
Pericardium
fibrous, serous sac
held in place within the mediastinum by connective tissue that supports the great vessels external walls superior to the heart and the diaphragm
outer portion is touch, dense connective tissue layer called the fibrous pericardium
Fibrous pericardium
dense connective tissue layer called the fibrous pericardium
attached to both the sternum and diaphragm
Functions of the pericardium
restricts heart movement so it doesn’t bounce and move in the thoracic cavity
prevents heart from overfilling with blood
Inner pericardium
serous pericardium