Mediastinum and Pericardium

Question 0

What are the boundaries of the mediastinum

Answer 0

Superior: superior thoracic aperture
Inferior: thoracic diaphragm
Anterior: sternum and costal cartilage
Posterior: bodies of the thoracic vertebrae

Question 1

What is contained in the mediastinum

Answer 1

all thoracic contents except lungs and vertebral column

Question 2

Where is the superior division of the mediastinum found

Answer 2

Between thoracic aperture and T4-5 IVD

Question 3

What are the contents of the superior division of the mediastinum

Answer 3

aortic arch, tracheal bifurcation

Question 4

Where is the inferior division of the mediastinum found

Answer 4

between T4-5 IVD and thoracic diapragm

Question 5

What is found in the inferior division of the mediastinum

Answer 5

pericardium
heart
Great blood vessel

Question 6

What is the pericardium

Answer 6

double walled sac that encloses the heart and the root of the great vessels

Question 7

What costal levels is the pericardium located between

Answer 7

2nd and 6th costal cartilages

Question 8

What is the purpose of the pericardium

Answer 8

restrict excessive heart movement

Question 9

How does the pericardium anchor to the body

Answer 9

Diaphragm by the pericardiophrenic ligament
Sternum by the sternocardial ligaments
Great vessels superiorly
Posteriorly by loose connective tissue

Question 10

What are the layers of the parietal pericardium

Answer 10

Fibrous layer

Serous Layer

Question 11

What is the fibrous pericardium continuous with

Answer 11

Inferiorly: central tendon of diaphragm, and tunica adventitia of inferior vena cava
Superiorly: Tunica adventitia of great vessels

Question 12

What is the serous layer of percardium continuous with

Answer 12

visceral pericardium at the root of the great vessels

Question 13

What is the visceral pericardium also known as

Answer 13

epicardium

Question 14

What does the pericardial cavity contain and what does it do

Answer 14

contains serous fluid and facilitates frictionless movement

Question 15

Where is the oblique pericardial sinus located

Answer 15

posterior surface of heart inferior to pulmonary vv

-formed by the serous pericardium reflected around the vv

Question 16

Where is the transverse pericardial sinus

Answer 16

passage posterior to ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk, but anterior to superior vena cava
- used in heart bypass surgery for access to vessels

Question 17

Where does the pericardiacophrenic a branch from and what does it supply

Answer 17

Branch from internal thoracic

Runs with phrenic n to parietal pericardium and thoracic diaphragm

Question 18

What does the percardiophrenic vein drain into

Answer 18

drains in to the internal thoracic v or brachiocephalic v

Question 19

What is the nerve roots for the phrenic nerve

Answer 19

C3-4-5 VPR

Question 20

What type of innervation does the phrenic nerve provide to

Answer 20

somatic sensory innervation (pain)– for mediastinal pleura

• pain felt directly posterior to sternum
• referred pain to ipsilateral supraclavicular region

Question 21

What is pericarditis

Answer 21

Inflammation of the serous pericardium

• Roughens the serous layers of the pericardium causing fluid buildup
• may compress the heart and cause cardiac tamponade

Question 22

What is hemopericardium

Answer 22

Blood accumulation in the pericardial sac

-Causes the veins in neck to become engorged as SVC is compressed

Question 23

Where is pericardiocentesis performed

Answer 23

5th or 6th intercostal space into the bare area