Thorax 7 (Sup. and Ant. Mediastinum)

Question 1

At what spinal level is the imaginary line that divides the mediastinum into the superior and inferior?

Answer 1

T4 (location of the sternal angle.

Question 2

Where does the superior mediastinum start and end?

Answer 2

Starts at the sternal angle, terminates at the superior thoracic aperture.

Question 3

Name the three main branches of the aortic arch?

Answer 3

Brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery.

Question 4

What does the brachiocephalic artery supply?

Answer 4

Right side of head and neck. Right upper limb

Question 5

What does the left common carotid artery supply?

Answer 5

Left side of head and neck

Question 6

What does the Left subclavian artery supply?

Answer 6

Left upper limb.

Question 7

Describe the location of the thymus?

Answer 7

Found in anterior mediastinum. Between manubrium, sternum and pericardium. Extends from jugular notch to 4th CC.

Question 8

What’s the function of the Thymus?

Answer 8

Programming T Lymphocytes.

Question 9

What’s the blood supply for the Thymus?

Answer 9

From internal thoracic and inferior thyroid arteries. Venous drainage to left brachiocephalic arteries.

Question 10

Where do the internal jugular and subclavian vein join to form right and left BCV’s?

Answer 10

Posterior to the sternoclavicular joint.

The Left BCV passes ant to the arch of aorta , post to the manubrium

Question 11

At what surface landmark does the RBCV and LBCV join to form the SVC?

Answer 11

Posterior to 1st Right Costal cartilage.

Question 12

At what surface landmark does the arch of the azygos vein join the SVC?

Answer 12

Posterior to 2nd Right Costal Cartilage.

Question 13

At what surface landmark does the SVC enter the right atrium?

Answer 13

Posterior to the 3rd Right costal cartilage.

Question 14

Describe the path of the right vagus nerve

Answer 14

Runs parallel to the trachea, passes posteriorly to SVC and right main bronchus.

Question 15

What does the Azygos Vein drain?

Answer 15

Post. chest wall

Question 16

What does the subclavian vein drain?

Answer 16

Upper limb.

Question 17

What does the internal jugular vein drain?

Answer 17

The head and neck.

Question 18

What does the Brachiocephalic trunk divide to give?

Answer 18

The R subclavian and R common carotid.

Question 19

Where the Brachiocephalic trunk divide?

Answer 19

Right sternoclavicular joint.

Question 20

What’s the function of the Ligamentum Arteriosum?

Answer 20

Connects Pulmonary trunk to aortic arch

Question 21

What spinal level is the Pulmonary trunk located?

Answer 21

T5

Question 22

What kind of cartilage is the trachea made from?

Answer 22

Hyaline cartilage

Question 23

where does the trachea start and end?

Answer 23

Starts at C6, ends at the sternal angle (T4/5).

Question 24

Where does the tracheal bifurcation (Carina) occur?

Answer 24

T4/5.

Question 25

Why are foreign bodies more likely to enter the right lung than the left?

Answer 25

Right main bronchus is shorter, wider and more vertical. The left bronchus is more at an angle due to the heart’s location.

Question 26

What’s the purpose of the oesophagus?

Answer 26

Transport of fod and fluid, through the thorax and diaphragm to stomach.

Question 27

What level does the oesophagus start?

Answer 27

C6

Question 28

Describe the path of the Thoracic Duct

Answer 28

Starts below the diaphragm in the abdomen. Converges at the cisterna chyli which goes through the diaphragm. At T4/5 it crosses behind the oesophagus to ascend on the left side.

Question 29

Describe the path of the right vagus nerve?

Answer 29

Runs parallel to the trachea and passes posteriorly to the SVC and the right primary bronchus.

Question 30

Describe the path of the left vagus nerve?

Answer 30

Enters sup mediastinum between left common carotid and left subclavian artery. Descends anteriorly to the aortic arch, and posteriorly to the left bronchus.

Question 31

Which nerve does the left recurrent laryngeal nerve arise from?

Answer 31

The left vagus nerve.