the lungs, pleural cavity, mediastinum and heart in situ Flashcards
how is the mediastinum divided
- superior mediastinum
- inferior mediastinum ( anterior, posterior and middle)
what divided the superior and inferior mediastinum
- transverse thoracic plane
- level of angle of sternum which is roughly level at the second rib (intervertebral disk of t4/t5)
where does the superior mediastinum span
superior thoracic aperture to the transverse thoracic plane
what does the inferior mediastinum spam
- transverse thoracic plane to the diaphragm
what makes up the superior mediastinum
- great vessels such as veins (brachiocephalic veins and superior vena cava), arteries (aortic arch and its major branches)
- related nerves (vagus and phrenic nerves)
- trachea, oesophagus, related nerves
- thoracic duct and lymphatic trunk
- parts of the thymus
what makes up the posterior mediastinum
- thoracic aorta
- thoracic duct
- lymphaticc trunks
posterior mediastinal lymph nodes
azygos and esophagal nerve pleuxes
what makes up the anterior mediastinum
- loose connective tissue
- fat
- internal thoracic vessels
- in infants part of thymus
- lymphatic vessels and a few lymph nodes
what are the laters of the pericardium
- two layers
- fibrous layer which is a tough protective outer layer preventing the heart from overfilling
- serous layer which has a visceral and a parietal player- with a pericardial cavity
- pericardial cavity is fluid filled and it reduces friction during contraction
what is a pericardial effusion
passage of fluid from pericardial capillaries or pus into the pericardial cavity causes by some inflammatory disease
what is a pericardial tamponade
- compression of heart due to pericardial effusion but can be relieved via pericardiocentesis
what nerves supply the mediastinum
- phrenic nerves- located anteriorly
- vagus nerves- located behind the heart and the lung root
what is the primary function of the lungs and lower airways
- gas exchange
- control of blood ph
what is the position of the lungs in the thorax
-posteriorly lungs reach below the 9th pair of ribs, pleura reaches even further into the costodiaphragmatic recess below the 11th pair of ribs
- anteriorly lungs reach to about the 9th pair of ribs the pleura to the 7th pair
how many lobes does the right lung have and how many segments in each lobe
- superior lobe ( 3 segments)
- middle lobe (2 segments)
- inferior lobe (5 segments)
what is the hilum and what structures does it contain
- root of the lung
- has pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins, airway and lymphatics
- arteries found superior
- veins found inferior
- airway- posterior
what is the lower airways
- below the larynx (voice box)
how is the airways divided as you go inferior
- trachea
- right or left main bronchus
- secondary/ lobar bronchus
- tertiary/segmental bronchus
- bronchioles (terminating and respiratory)
- alveolus sac
- alveoli
what is the difference between the left and right main bronchus
- right is shorter and wider
- left is narrower but longer
- foreign material/ obstruction occurs in right main bronchus usually
surgically what is significant about the bronchopulmonary segments
- can be resected without compromising function of the rest of the lungs
what is COPD its symptoms, causes and contributing conditions
COPD- inflammatory obstructive diseases that causing obstructed airflow from the lungs
- symptoms include difficulty breathing, cough, mucus production and wheezing
- causes include smoking and long term exposure to irritating gases, duct etc
- contributing conditions include emphysema and chronic bronchitis