Posterior Mediastinum

Question 1

Which vertebrae make up the posterior border of the posterior mediastinum?

Answer 1

T5-T12

Question 2

What are the contents of the posterior mediastinum?

Answer 2

thoracic aorta, oesophagus, thoracic duct, azygous system of veins, sympathetic trunk

Question 3

At what level does the thoracic aorta pass through the aortic hiatus in the diaphragm?

Answer 3

T12

Question 4

What are the major branches of the thoracic aorta?

Answer 4

posterior intercostal arteries, bronchial arteries, oesophageal arteries, superior phrenic arteries

Question 5

How many pairs of posterior intercostal arteries are there?

Answer 5

nine

Question 6

How many pairs of bronchial arteries are there?

Answer 6

one or two, left bronchial arteries always arise directly from the thoracic aorta, while those on the right usually branch indirectly from a right posterior intercostal artery

Question 7

Are the oesophageal arteries paired or unpaired?

Answer 7

unpaired

Question 8

How many oesophageal arteries are there?

Answer 8

normally 2, but can be up to 5

Question 9

Where do the superior phrenic arteries arise?

Answer 9

anterior aspect of the thoracic aorta at the aortic hiatu

Question 10

What do the superior phrenic arteries supply?

Answer 10

superior aspect of diaphragm

Question 11

Which is the posterior one, the aorta or the oesophagus?

Answer 11

oesophagus

Question 12

What is the thoracic duct?

Answer 12

the largest lymphatic vessel in the body, allowing return of lymph from most of the body (all but the right superior quadrant) into the venous system

Question 13

Where does the thoracic duct originate?

Answer 13

cisterna chyli in the abdomen

Question 14

How does the thoracic duct enter the thorax?

Answer 14

aortic hiatus

Question 15

While in the posterior mediastinum, the thoracic duct receives drainage from the ________

Answer 15

intercostal spaces

Question 16

Describe the azygous system of veins

Answer 16

This venous network drains blood from the body walls and mediastinal viscera, and empties into the superior vena cava.

Question 17

What are the three main veins of the azygous system?

Answer 17

azygous vein, hemiazygous vein, accessory hemiazygous vein

Question 18

Which vein of the azygous system crosses the diaphragm through the left crus?

Answer 18

hemiazygous vein

Question 19

which vein of the azygous system crosses the diaphragm through the aortic hiatus?

Answer 19

azygous vein

Question 20

Which vein of the azygous system if formed by the union of the fourth to eighth intercostal veins?

Answer 20

accessory hemiazygous vein

Question 21

At what level does the accessory hemiazygous vein drain into the azygous vein?

Answer 21

T7

Question 22

How is the hemiazygous vein formed?

Answer 22

Formed by the union of the left lumbar vein and left subcostal vein.

Question 23

At what level does the hemiazygous vein join the azygous vein?

Answer 23

T8

Question 24

Which veins form the azygous vein?

Answer 24

right lumbar vein, right subcostal vein

Question 25

Which vein does the azygous vein drain into?

Answer 25

superior vena cava

Question 26

The sympathetic trunks are paired bundles of nerves that extend from the base of the skull to the ______

Answer 26

coccyx

Question 27

Which nerves arise from the thoracic sympathetic trunks?

Answer 27

lower thoracic splanchnic nerves