Regional Anatomy of the Mediastinum Flashcards
Superior Boundary of the Superior Mediastinum
Thoracic Inlet (1st ribs and costal cartilages, jugular notch of manubrium and T1) `
Inferior Boundary of the Superior Mediastinum
Imaginary Plane which passes through the sternal angle, intervertebral disc of T4/5 and aorticopulmonary window
Anterior Boundary of the Superior Mediastinum
Manubrium of the Sternum
Posterior Boundary of the Superior Mediastinum
T1-T4/5
Lateral Boundary of the Superior Mediastinum
Parietal Pleura
Superior Border of the Anterior Mediastinum
Imaginary Plane which passes through the sternal angle, intervertebral disc of T4/5 and aorticopulmonary window
Inferior Border of the Anterior Mediastinum
Thoracic Diaphragm
Anterior Border of the Anterior Mediastinum
Body of the Sternum
Posterior Border of the Anterior Mediastinum
Fibrous Pericardium
Lateral Border of the Anterior Mediastinum
Parietal Pleura
Superior Border of the Middle Mediastinum
Imaginary Plane which passes through the sternal angle, intervertebral disc of T4/5 and aorticopulmonary window
Inferior Border of the Middle Mediastinum
Thoracic Diaphragm
Anterior Border of the Middle Mediastinum
Fibrous Pericardium
Posterior Border of the Middle Mediastinum
Fibrous Pericardium, tracheal bifurcation, primary bronchi
Lateral Border of the Middle Mediastinum
Parietal Pleura
Superior Border of the Posterior Mediastinum
Imaginary Plane which passes through the sternal angle, intervertebral disc of T4/5 and aorticopulmonary window
Inferior Border of the Posterior Mediastinum
Thoracic Diaphragm
Anterior Border of the Posterior Mediastinum
Fibrous pericardium, tracheal bifurcation, primary bronchi
Posterior Border of the Posterior Mediastinum
T4/5 - T12
Lateral Border of the Posterior Mediastinum
Parietal Pleura
Blood Vessel Contents of the Superior Mediastinum
Brachiocephalic Veins, Superior Vena Cava (proximal half), Aortic arch and its branches
Nervous Tissue Contents of the Superior Mediastinum
Phrenic nerves, vagus nerves, left recurrent laryngeal nerve
Large Organ Contents of the Superior Mediastinum
Trachea and associated lymph nodes, oesophagus, thoracic duct, thymus or its remnant, brachiocephalic lymph nodes
Blood Vessel Contents of the Anterior Mediastinum
Internal Thoracic Blood Vessels
Nervous Tissue Contents of the Anterior Mediastinum
Nil
Large Organ Contents of the Anterior Mediastinum
Thymus or its remnant, loose connective tissue (sternopericardial ligaments), parasternal lymph nodes
Blood Vessel Contents of the Middle Mediastinum
Great Vessels of the Heart, Pulmonary Arteries and Veins, Arch of the Azygos Vein
Nervous Tissue Contents of the Middle Mediastinum
Phrenic Nerves
Large Organ Contents of the Middle Mediastinum
Heart, terminal end of the trachea and primary bronchi, Bronchotracheal lymph nodes
Blood Vessel Contents of the Posterior Mediastinum
Descending thoracic aorta, azygos, hemiazygos and accessory hemiazygos veins
Nervous Tissue Contents of the Posterior Mediastinum
Vagus nerves (contributes to oesophageal nerve plexus)
Large Organ Contents of the Posterior Mediastinum
Oesophagus, Thoracic Duct, Posterior mediastinal lymph nodes
Artery Definition: Terminal Branch
o An artery end by dividing into different arteries with different names
Artery Definition: Continuation
o An artery crosses a certain landmark and so the name changes (the same artery continues named as a different vessel)
Artery Definition: Collateral Branch
o ‘Side-branch’
o Original artery continues past that side-branch
Vein Definition: Confluence
o Veins uniting or coming together to form another single (larger) vein, a union
o e.g., Right and Left Brachiocephalic Veins -> Superior Vena Cava
Vein Definition: Tributary
o A side vein joins onto a larger vein (a side-branch, however the blood is flowing in a different direction to arteries)
o e.g., Right and left renal veins are tributaries of the inferior vena cava
Vein Definition: Continuation
o A vein crosses a certain landmark and so the name changes (the same vein continues named as a different vessel)
Major Mediastinal Compartments
The mediastinum is divided into superior and inferior mediastina by an imaginary plane that passes through the sternal angle, aorticopulmonary window and the intervertebral disc between T4/T5 vertebrae
What compartments is the Inferior Mediastinum divided into?
o The anterior mediastinum, the middle mediastinum and the posterior mediastinum