The Thorax 2 Flashcards
What is the mediastinum?
What structures are found in the mediastinum?
The mediastinum is a broad median partition – actually a mass of tissues – medial to the lungs that extends from the sternum to the vertebral column – it includes all of the contents of the thoracic cavity except the lungs themselves – among the structures in the mediastinum are the heart, oesophagus, trachea, thymus gland, and many large blood and lymphatic vessels.
Label this image including the mediastinum


What are the 4 regions of the mediastinum?
- The superior mediastinum (manubriosternal junction to T4) – contains the arch of the aorta
- The anterior mediastinum
- The middle mediastinum – contains bifurcation of the trachea and the main bronchi
- The posterior mediastinum
Label this image with soft tissue anatomy and mediastinum regions


What does the superior mediastinum contain?
The arch of aorta
What does the middle mediastinum contain?
- Bifurcation of trachea
- Main bronchi
- Oseophagus
What does the anterior mediastinum contain?
Lymph vessels and nodes
What does the posterior mediastinum contain?
- Thoracic part of descending aorta
- Azygos & hemiazygos veins
- Vagus nerve
- Oesophagus
- Thoracic duct
- Lymph glands
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At what level do the main brochi commence?
Describe the structure of them?
Where does the left main bronchus pass?
- The right and left main bronchi commence at the bifurcation of the trachea, at the level of the upper border of T5
- The right main bronchus is wider, shorter and more ‘vertical’ than the left main bronchus – hence any foreign bodies that enter the respiratory system are more likely to lodge in the right pulmonary bronchus
- The left main bronchus passes behind the arch of the aorta and in front of the oesophagus and descending aorta
Explain the division of the bronchial tree?
- The bronchi within each lobe of the lung divide and subdivide to form smaller and smaller branches
- The main bronchi subdivide to form the secondary or lobar bronchi which supply each lobe of the lungs
- The secondary bronchi subdivide to form tertiary bronchi which then subdivide to form the terminal bronchioles
- This extensive branching is frequently referred to as the bronchial tree
- Superior / Upper and Inferior / Lower can be used interchangeably.
Label the lobes of the lungs


Label the x-ray with the lobes of the lungs


What are the lungs?
Separated by what?
•The lungs are paired cone-shaped organs lying in the thoracic cavity. – separated from each other by the heart and other structures in the mediastinum.
What are each lung divided into?
- The right lung is divided into superior, middle and inferior lobes
- The left lung is divided into superior and inferior lobes
- Each lobe is further divided into bronchopulmonary segments - Composed of many lobules. Each lobule is wrapped in elastic connective tissue.
Each lobule is composed of:
- A terminal bronchiole
- Alveoli
- Small branches of the pulmonary and bronchiole arteries
- Lymphatic vessels
- Nerves
Label the lung fissures


What is a fissure?
Explain the membranous layers of the lungs?
Fissures - Infolding of pleural membrane
Two layers of serous membrane (pleural membrane) enclose and protect each lung. The superficial layer lines the wall of the thoracic cavity and is called the parietal pleura. The deep layers, the visceral pleura, covers the lungs themselves.
•Between the visceral and parietal pleurae is a small potential space, the pleural cavity which contains a lubricating fluid secreted by the membranes. This fluid reduces friction between the membranes and allows them to slide easily on one another during breathing.
Expalin the fissure divisions of each lung?
Each lung is divided into lobes by one or more fissures, both lungs have an oblique fissure which extends inferiorly and anteriorly.
The right lung also has a horizontal fissure.
The oblique fissure separates the superior lobe from the inferior lobe. The superior part of the oblique fissure of the right lung separates the superior lobe from the inferior lobe, whereas the inferior part of the oblique fissure separates the inferior lobe from the middle lobe.
The horizontal fissure of the right lung subdivides the superior lobe thus forming a middle lobe.

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