Posterior and Superior Mediastinum Flashcards
Superior Boundary of Mediastinum
Thoracic Inlet
Inferior Boundary of Mediastinum
Diaphragm
Sternal Angle
Found at level of T4/T5. Boundary between superior and middle mediastinum. Point where trachea bifurcates, anteriorly boundary between ascending aorta and arch of aorta, posteriorly boundary between arch of aorta and descending aorta.
Boundary between superior and middle mediastinum
Sternal Angle
Structures found on right side of mediastinum
Pericardium, lung roots, inferior vena cava, superior vena cava, azygos system, phrenic, vagus and sympathetic trunk, trachea and esophagus
Location of phrenic nerve relative to lung root
Anterior to root of lung
Location of vagus nerve relative to trachea
Lateral to trachea
Location of vagus nerve relative to lung root
Posterior to root of lung
Rami Communicantes
Communicating branches of sympathetic trunk with intercostal nerves
Greater Splanchnic Nerve
Part of sympathetic trunk, carries sympathetic fibers to the abdomen.
Structures found on left side of mediastinum
Pericardium, root of lungs, aorta, phrenic vagus and sympathetic chain, left superior intercostal vein
Location of phrenic nerve relative to aortic arch
Runs across it
Location of vagus nerve relative to aortic arch
loops around it and forms the left recurrent laryngeal nerve
Branches of aorta, both right and left
On right: brachiocephalic trunk, common carotid comes off of brachiocephalic trunk; on left: common carotid artery and left subclavian artery
Morphology of right primary bronchi
Stubbier, thicker, larger, more transversely angled; shorter then left, more likely to contain inhaled object
Morphology of left primary bronchi
Longer, thinner, more obliquely angled. Longer and smaller than the right.
Area of Laimer
exposed area of circular muscle in the esophagus
Fibers found in esophageal plexus
Sympathetic fibers from the sympathetic trunk and parasympathetics from the vagus nerve
Smaller branches of the aorta
Coronary arteries, bronchial artery, posterior intercostal arteries, esophageal arteries
At what level does the aorta pierce the diaphragm
T12
Drainage of right and left 1st intercostal space
Drain to brachiocephalic vein via right or left supreme intercostal vein
Drainage of right 2,3,and 4 intercostal space
drains to azygos vein via the superior intercostal vein
Drainage of left 2,3, and 4 intercostal space
drains to brachiocephalic vein via the left superior intercostal vein
Drainage of right 5-12 intercostal space
drains to azygos vein directly
Drainage of left 5,6,7, and 8 intercostal space
drains to azygos via accessory hemiazygos vein
Drainage of left 9,10,11, and 12 intercostal space
drains to azygos vein via hemiazygos vein
Cisterna Chyli
Beginning of thoracic duct at the level of L1.
Jugular lymph trunk
drains lymph from upper part of head
Left subclavian trunk
drains lymph from arm
Bronchomediastinal trunk
drains lymph from thorax
tracheobronchial nodes
FIND OUT WHAT THEY DO
Motor innervation of diaphragm
Phrenic nerve
Sensory innervation of diaphragm
Phrenic nerve, small amount by intercostal nerves at lower levels
Where does inferior vena cava pierce diaphragm
T8
Where does esophagus pierce diaphragm
T10
Where does aorta pierce diaphragm
T12
