Sub Divisions Of The Mediastinum (NC)

Question 1

What are the subdivisions of the mediastinum?

Answer 1

Superior part - above sternal angle
Inferior - below sternal angle
Middle - the heart area itself
Anterior - infront of heart
Posterior - behind heart
Mediastinum stops at the diaphragm - its boundary

Question 2

Whats structures can you see on the right side of the mediastinum with lung removed

Answer 2

Oesophagus
Trachea
Superior vena cava
Lung hilum/root of the lung (needed to be cut to remove Lung)
Right phrenic nerve
Inferior vena cava
Right vagus nerve
Pericardium covering right atrium
Azygous vein
Right sympathetic chain
Right abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves

Question 3

Where is the right and left phrenic nerve in the mediastinum?

Answer 3

Descending in chest cavity anterior to the root on the lung on to the surface of the fibrous pericardium
Left phrenic nerve on the LHS
Right phrenic nerve on the RHS

Question 4

Where is the right vagus nerve in the RHS of the mediastinum?

Answer 4

Tracks alongside trachea then passes posterior to the root of the lung then onto surface of oesophagus before passing through diaphragm

Question 5

What does the azogous vein do and where is it

Answer 5

Drains venous blood for the intercostal spaces, crosses over the top of hilum of the lung and joins with the superior vena cava (RHS of the mediastinum)

Question 6

What structures can be seen on the left side of the mediastinum with the left lung removed?

Answer 6

Lung hilum/root of the lung
Left phrenic nerve
Left vagus nerve
Left abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves
Left sympathetic chain
Ascending aorta
Arch of aorta
Thoracic/descending aorta
Ligamentum aortatriosum
Thoracic duct
Recurrent laryngeal branch of the Left vagus nerve

Question 7

When is the thoracic/descending aorta know as the abdominal aorta?

Answer 7

once its passed the diaphragm

Question 8

What is the ligamentum arteriosum

Answer 8

Remnant of ductus arteriosus that connected Pulmonary trunk to arch of aorta during foetal development

Question 9

Where is the left vagus nerve in the LHS of the mediastinum?

Answer 9

Crosses left side of arch of aorta before heading behind the root of the lung (lung hilum) onto the oesophagus and down into the diaphragm

Question 10

What is the main duct that drains lymph from the body and where is it?

Answer 10

Thoracic duct
On left side of upper oesophagus - posterior of the mediastinum

Question 11

What are the structures found in the posterior mediastinum?

Answer 11

Oesophagus
Vagus nerves - Right and left
Thoracic Aorta
Azygous vein
Thoracic duct (between oesophagus and azygous vein)
Sympathetic chains - Right and left
(And there) Abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves
Vagus nerves - Right and left

Question 12

How to view the posterior mediastinum

Answer 12

Must remove heart