Mediastinum & Heart - Mediastinum

Question 1

What are the parts and subparts of the mediastinum?

Answer 1

superior
inferior (ant, mid, post subdivisions)

Question 2

Superior mediastinum borders?

Answer 2

ant – post aspect of manubrium
post – ant aspect of first 4 thoracic vert bodies (T1-T4)
lat – right and left pleura
sup – sup thoracic aperture (thoracic inlet)
inf – line from sternal angle to disc of T4-T5

Question 3

Inferior mediastinum borders?

Answer 3

ant – post aspect of the sternum
post – ant aspect of the 5th-12th thoracic vertebral bodies (T5-T12)
lat – right and left pleura
sup – line from sternal angle to disc of T4-T5
inf – thoracic surface of diaphragm

Question 4

Sup mediastinum contents? (15)

Answer 4

6 nn – LRL, vagus, cardiac plexus, mediastinal autonomics, symp chain, phrenic
2 vv – brachiocephalic, SVC
2 aa – aortic arch, branches (3; brachiocephalic, LCC, LS)
2 tubes – trachea, esophagus
3 lymph – lymph nodes, thymus, thoracic duct

Question 5

Post mediastinum contents? (9)

Answer 5

3 nn – vagus, symp chain, splanchnics
2 vv – azygos, hemiazygos
2 aa – desc aorta, branches
1 tube – esophagus
1 duct – thoracic duct

Question 6

Ant mediastinum contents? (3)

Answer 6

remnants of thymus gland, lymph vessels, fat

Question 7

Middle mediastinum contents? (10)

Answer 7

1 organ – heart
1 n – phrenic n
8 (great) vessels – 4 pulm veins, 1 pulm trunk (splits into L/R pulm aa), SVC, IVC, aorta