The mediastinum contents Flashcards
What is in the superior mediastinum?
The oesophagus and trachea. The aortic arch and superior vena cava. Left and right phrenic nerves. Left and right vagus nerves. Thoracic duct and sympathetic chains.
What is in the anterior mediastinum?
Fat and thymus
What is in the middle mediastinum?
The heart and pericardium. The roots of the great vessels, phrenic nerves and vagus nerves. Cardiac plexus.
What is in the posterior mediastinum?
The descending aorta, oesophagus, thoracic duct, azygous system of veins and sympathetic chains.
What is the function of the azygous system of veins?
To drain the thoracic wall blood into the superior vena cava.
Describe where the sympathetic chains are.
External to the spinal column, adjacent to the vertebral bodies. one on each side.
What does the phrenic enrve supply?
The diaphragm
Where are the phrenic and vagus nerve in relation to the lung?
Phrenic nerve is anterior to the root of the lung. Vagus nerve is posterior to root of lung.
What part of the mediastinum is the heart and pericardium?
Middle mediastinum
What part of the pericardium is the fat and thymus?
Anterior mediastinum
Where is the trachea, aortic arch, superior vena cave?
Superior mediastinum
At what level is the opening of the azygous system into the superior vena cava?
Around T3
From top to bottom what azygous veins are on the right?
Right superior intercostal vein, azygous vein, right subcostal vein, right ascending lumbar vein.
From top to bottom what azygous veins are on the left?
Left superior intercostal vein, accessory hemiazygos vein, posterior intercostal vein, hemiazygos vein, left ascending lumbar vein
What are the nerve roots of the phrenic nerve?
C3, C4 and C5
