Superior Mediasteium

Question 1

what is the mediastinum and where is it located and what does it do

Answer 1

the central compartment of the thoracic cavity, located between the two pleural sacs. It contains most of the thoracic organs, and acts as a conduit for structures traversing the thorax on their way into the abdomen.

Question 2

anatomical divisions of the mediastinum

Answer 2

divided into two parts by an imaginary line that runs from the sternal angle (the angle formed by the junction of the sternal body and manubrium) to the T4 vertebrae

Question 3

what is the reach of the superior oft eh mediasteinum

Answer 3

extends upwards, terminating at the superior thoracic aperture

Question 4

what is the reach of the inferior oft eh mediasteinum

Answer 4

extends downwards, terminating at the diaphragm. It is further subdivided into the anterior mediastinum, middle mediastinum and posterior mediastinum

Question 5

what are the borders of the sperior mediastenium

Answer 5

Superior – Thoracic inlet.
Inferior – Continuous with the inferior mediastinum at the level of the sternal angle.
Anterior – Manubrium of the sternum.
Posterior – Vertebral bodies of T1-4.
Lateral – Pleurae of the lungs.

Question 6

what does the mediasteuim contain

Answer 6

neural, vascular and respiratory structures passing from the adjacent regions of the neck and abdomen (via the inferior mediastinum).

Question 7

The great systemic blood vessels of the heart lie within the superior mediastinum and their main branches arise before passing through the superior thoracic aperture, which ones are these

Answer 7

Arch of Aorta

Superior VC

Question 8

which three major branches of the aortic arch arises within the superior mediastinum and where does it go?

Answer 8

Brachiocephalic artery – supplying the right side of the head & neck and the right upper limb.
Left Common carotid artery – to the left side of the head & neck.
Left Subclavian artery – to the left upper limb.

Question 9

which tributaries of the superior vena cava are located within the superior mediasteiumum

Answer 9

Brachiocephalic veins – draining blood from the upper body.
Left superior intercostal vein – collects blood from the left 2nd and 3rd intercostal vein. It drains into the left brachiocephalic vein.
Supreme intercostal vein – drains the vein from first intercostal space directly into the brachiocephalic veins.
Azygos vein – receiving blood from the right posterior intercostal veins. The left intercostal veins drain first into the hemiazygos and accessory hemiazygos veins before joining the azygos vein around T7-T9.

Question 10

which distintive paths does the vagus take in the superior meiasteum

Answer 10

Right vagus nerve – runs parallel to the trachea and passes posteriorly to the superior vena cava and the right primary bronchus.
Left vagus nerve (Fig 3) – enters the superior mediastinum between the left common carotid and the left subclavian arteries. It descends anteriorly to the aortic arch, before travelling posterior to the left bronchus.

Question 11

what is the path of the left recurrent laryngeal artery

Answer 11

The left recurrent laryngeal nerve arises from the left vagus nerve as it passes the aortic arch. It loops under the arch, to the left of ligamentum arteriosum, before continuing its journey to the larynx in the tracheal-oesophageal groove.

Question 12

what is the path of the phrenic nerve througt the mediastium

Answer 12

From the anterior surface of the anterior scalene muscle, the phrenic nerves (roots C3, C4 and C5) enter the superior mediastinum lateral to the great vessels. They then descend anteriorly into the middle mediastinum, passing anteriorly to the hilum of the lungs.

Question 13

other nerves that are in the superior mediastiunim

Answer 13

Cardiac nerves – originate from the superior, middle and inferior cardiac ganglion and form the superficial and deep cardiac plexuses in the superior mediastinum. The superior plexus sits between the aortic arch and right pulmonary vein. The deep plexus lies on the surface of the trachea at the point of bifurcation.
Sympathetic trunk – runs bilaterally to the vertebral bodies along the entire length of the vertebral column.

Question 14

desruve the other structures that are within the superior mediastuimum

Answer 14

Thymus
The thymus gland is the most anterior structure within the superior mediastinum. It sits flush against the posterior surface of the sternum and extends into the anterior mediastinum (Fig 4) and can often reach into the neck.

Trachea
The trachea bifurcates into the primary bronchi posterior to the ascending aorta at the level of the sternal angle.

Oesophagus
The oesophagus ascends towards the pharynx, which it joins at the level of C6.

Thoracic duct
In the superior mediastinum, the thoracic duct passes to the left of the oesophagus on its path to the junction of the left internal jugular and subclavian veins.

Muscles
The sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles originate from the posterior surface of the manubrium. They are part of the infrahyoid muscle group of the neck.

The inferior aspect of the longus colli muscle also originates within the superior mediastinum.