Mediastinum Boundaries

Question 1

Where does the thorax sit?

Answer 1

Superiorly in the trunk of the body

Question 2

What does the thoracic cage do?

Answer 2

Protects the contents of thorax

Question 3

What is the thoracic cage made up of?

Answer 3

The ribs, costal cartilage, sternum and thoracic vertebrae

Question 4

What three regions can the thoracic cavity can be split up into?

Answer 4

Left and right pleural cavities and mediastinum

Question 5

What is the mediastinum?

Answer 5

Central compartment of the thoracic cavity situated between the lungs

Question 6

Where does the mediastinum extend from?

Answer 6

Superior thoracic aperture (superiorly) to the diaphragm (inferiorly) and from the sternum and costal cartilages (anteriorly) to the bodies of the thoracic vertebrae (posteriorly)

Question 7

What does the mediastinum consist of?

Answer 7

Hollow visceral structures

Question 8

What are visceral structures joined by?

Answer 8

Loose connective tissue

Question 9

What is the sternal angle?

Answer 9

The Joint between the manubrium (top part) and the body of the sternum

Question 10

What is the thoracic plane?

Answer 10

A horizontal plane from the sternal angle to the level between T4 and T5 (Thoracic)

Question 11

What does the thoracic plane split the mediastinum into?

Answer 11

The superior mediastinum and the inferior mediastinum

Question 12

What is inferior mediastinum subdivided into?

Answer 12

The anterior mediastinum, middle mediastinum and the posterior mediastinum

Question 13

What does the superior mediastinum contain?

Answer 13

Oesophagus, trachea and neurovasaculture

Question 14

What is made is the neurovasaculture made up of?

Answer 14

The arch of the aorta, superior vena cava, left and right phrenic nerves, left and right vagus nerves and thoracic duct and sympathetic chains

Question 15

What does the anterior mediastinum (subdivision of the inferior mediastinum) contain?

Answer 15

Fat and thymus

Question 16

What does the middle mediastinum contain (subdivision of the inferior mediastinum)?

Answer 16

Heart, pericardium, the roots of the great vessels, left and right phrenic nerves, left and right vagus nerves and the cardiac plexus

Question 17

What does the posterior mediastinum (subdivision of the inferior mediastinum) contain?

Answer 17

Descending aorta and branches, oesophagus, thoracic duct, azygos system of veins and sympathetic chains

Question 18

What is the configuration of the Azygos system of veins?

Answer 18

H-shaped

Question 19

What does the Azygos system do?

Answer 19

Drains the posterior thoracic wall

Question 20

What is the sympathetic chain also known as?

Answer 20

The sympathetic trunk

Question 21

What is the sympathetic chain external to?

Answer 21

The Spinal column

Question 22

What is the sympathetic chain adjacent to?

Answer 22

Vertebral bodies

Question 23

What is the main lymphatic vessel for the return of lymph to the system venous system?

Answer 23

Thoracic duct

Question 24

What does the Thoracic duct do?

Answer 24

Drains lymph from both lower limbs, Abdomen, left hemithorax, left upper limb and side of face and neck

Question 25

What is the thymus?

Answer 25

A T-cell producing lymphoid organ

Question 26

Describe the phrenic nerve?

Answer 26

A paired nerve that supplies the diaphragm

Question 27

What does the phrenic nerve come from?

Answer 27

Nerve roots C3,C4,C5

Question 28

What nerve is the vagus nerve?

Answer 28

The 10th cranial nerve (X)

Question 29

What does the vagus nerve provide?

Answer 29

The bulk of the parasympathetic input to the gastrointestinal system and to the heart

Question 30

Where does the phrenic nerve lie in relation to teh root of the lung?

Answer 30

Anterior

Question 31

Where does the vagus nerve lie to the root of the lung?

Answer 31

Posterior