Thorax 5: Superior and Posterior Mediastinum Flashcards
What are the subdivisions of the mediastinum
superior and inferior
What is the inferior mediastinum divided further into
anterior, middle, and posterior
What nerves are found in the superior mediastinum
phrenic, vagus, branches from sympathetic chain
What can the superior mediastinum be further divided into
retrosternal
intermediate
prevertebral
What are the contents of the retrosternal mediastinum
great vessels and thymus
What are the contents of the intermediate mediastinum
aortic arch
great branches
ligamentum arteriosum
nerves (phrenic, vagus, sympathetic cardiac branches)
Where is the brachiocephalic artery found and what will it divide into
comes off aorta on the right side: gives rise to subclavian and right common carotid
Where does the vagus nerve course within the mediastinum
follow esophagus into the abdomen
branches to form left recurrent under arch of aorta (right recurrent under subclavian)
What is contained in the prevertebral aspect of the superior mediastinum
trachea esophagus left recurrent laryngeal lymph nodes thoracic duct
What structures are contained in the posterior mediastinum
thoracic aorta esophagus (autonomic nerves) thoracic duct primary bronchi and nodes azygos system
What structures compose Kuleza’s triangle
thoracic aorta, azygos vein, and esophagus
What is contained in Kuleza’s triangle
thoracic duct
What type of arches are seen in the mediastinum
venous arch on right (azygos system)
arterial arch on left: aorta
What structures are seen in the mediastinum form the right side
azygos vein, vagus
What structures are seen in the mediastinum from the left side
aorta
vagus/left recurrent
esophagus