Week 3: CAI Flashcards
What is the Mediastinum
- Broad Central region that separates the two laterally placed pleural cavities
Where is the Mediastinum found?
- Extends from Sternum to bodies of verterbra A-P axis
- From Superior Thoracic Aperture to the Diaphragm S-I axis
What Vertebral Level does the Sternal Place Sit?
- T4/T5 intervertebral disc
How are the Mediastinum regions divided?
- Sternal plane (T4/T5 IV disc), divides Superior and Inferior
- Inferior region further subdivided: Anterior, Middle, Posterior Regions by the Pericardial sac
- Middle Mediastinum - Where the heart sits
- Anterior Mediastinum is very narrow
- Posterior Mediastinum extends inferiorly to 12th Thoracic vertebra –> to Costodiaphragmatic recess
What Structures come off the Aorta at the Aortic Arch
- Right side - Brachiocephalic trunk
- Left side - Left common carotid artery
What structures form the Superior Vena Cava?
- Left and Right Brachiocephalic veins
Where do the Mediastinal Veins sit relative to the arteries
- Veins sit anterior to arteries
Where are the Left and Right Brachiocephalic Veins formed?
- Immediately posterior to the sternal clavicular joint
- Where Subclavian vein + Internal jugular vein meet
Where is the Superior Vena Cava formed?
- Behind right costal cartilage of rib 2
What are the Arteries coming off of the Aortic Arch in order as it passes posteriorly and laterally?
- Brachiocephalic trunk - Branches into R. Common Carotid a. (right head & neck) and R. Subclavian a. (right upper limb)
- Left Common Carotid a. (left head and neck)
- Left Subclavian a. (left upper limb)
What is Ligamentum Arteriosum
- In embryonic circulation - Ductus Arteriosus, Connected pulmonary trunk to arch of aorta, Allowed blood to bypass lungs during development.
- Closes soon after birth to become a ligamentous connection
- If fails to close, have mixing of low oxygenated blood from pulmonary trunk into highly oxygenated within aorta, Decreasing O2 content of blood to systemic circulation
What structures can be found in the Superior Mediastinum?
- Arch of aorta, great vessels, trachea, oesophagus, thoracic duct, phrenic & vagus nerves
What structures can be found within the Anterior Inferior Mediastinum?
- Internal thoracic vessels
- Fat
- Connective tissue
- Part of Thymus gland
Where is the Anterior portion of the Inferior Mediastinum found?
- Between sternum and anterior pericardial sac down to diaphragm
Describe CABG Procedure and its relevance to the Internal Thoracic arteries
- Coronary Arterial Bypass Graft procedure
- Can harvest part of an internal thoracic artery to replace/support coronary vessels in the heart which have become blocked/damaged beyond repair
Describe the Internal Thoracic Arteries, where they arise and their connections
- Arise from R + L Subclavian Arteries
- Pass Veins posteriorly and then pass anteriorly to anterior mediastinum region
- Give off some segmental anterior intercostal arteries that course within intercostal grooves to anastomose with posterior intercostal arteries that come off aorta.
- Resists atherosclerotic plaque build up better than any other artery
- Great anastomotic connections - CABG Procedure
What happens to the thymus with age?
- Involved in early development of immune system
- As age, atrophies after puberty into leftover fatty tissue
Where is the Thymus gland found?
- Located in superior & sometimes anterior mediastinum
What can be seen in the anterior mediastinum of children on CXR?
- Thymus is relatively large in children
- Can lead to thymic sail sign on CXR on right side of chest - Normal
What structures can be found in the posterior Inferior Mediastinum region?
- Oesophagus, Vagus nerves and Plexus, Descending aorta, Thoracic duct, Sympathetic Autonomic chain, Azygous venous system
What is the Function of the Azygous Venous System?
- Drain thoracic wall + overlying tissues
Where do the Oesophagus and Trachea sit in the Mediastinum?
- Sit in Superior & Posterior Mediastinum
What is the Innervation of the oesophagus
- Motor and Sensory - Vagus nerve
How can you visualise the left atrium of the heart via Ultrasound?
- Due to close relation of oesophagus to heart
- Can pass US probe down oesophagus + visualise left atrium of heart
What structures are found within the Middle Inferior Mediastinum?
- Heart
- Pericardium
- Origins of the great vessels: Superior Vena Cava, Pulmonary Trunk, Ascending Aorta
- Phrenic nerves - Passing very close to pericardium on either side of mediastinum. Contain fibres from C3,4,5 spinal nerves. Innervate diaphragm but also bring sensory innervation to fibrous pericardium
What is the connection of the Fibrous Pericardium to the Diaphragm?
- Binds to the central Diaphragmatic tendon
- So does not change shape that much with respiration, provides support
What can occur if there is compression or blockage of the SVC?
- Extrinsic compression by tumour/metastasis to mediastinal lymph nodes
- Block of venous return from areas draining into SVC
- Can see congestion of venous blood unable to drain (purple discolouration of pt in severe case)
What structure does the left recurrent laryngeal nerve swing immediately underneath as it heads back up towards the larynx
- Under the Aortic Arch
Where do the Vagus Nerves pass structures in the chest?
- Passes Posterior to hilum of the lungs
- But, Runs Anterior to the Subclavian Vessels & descends through mediastinum
- Right side, Recurs under the Right Subclavian artery posteriorly by apex of lung into Right Recurrent Laryngeal n. into Internal Larynx
- Left side, Recurs between pulmonary a. and aortic arch into Left Recurrent Laryngeal n.
- Rest of Vagal n. (R+L) continue down forming plexuses around trachea and inferior oesophagus
- Into diaphragm and abdominal cavity
- Vagal / Parasympathetic Autonomic Nerve Supply to gut viscera
What is the Aorto-Pulmonary Window
- Clinical Region between Pulmonary a. and Aortic Arch
- Where Vagus nerve recurs into left Recurrent Laryngeal n.
On what side would a hilar lymph node enlargement cause a hoarse voice?
- Left side
- L RLN recurs close to this region and may be compressed
Describe the Cardiac Plexus
- Cardiac plexus is a mix of BOTH Cardiac branches of vagus nerve (Parasympathetic) and Sympathetic Chain Fibres froom T1-T4 levels (Sympathetic system)
- Located Behind heart, between trachea and aorta
Describe the Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Nerve Supplies to the Heart
- Parasympathetic - Left & Right Vagus Nerves
- Sympathetic - Sympathetic Chain T1-T4 level fibres, mainly left side.
Describe the Sensory nerve supply to the heart
- Cardiac Visceral sensory fibres travel back to CNS along with sympathetic nerves
- Sense Stretch, Inflammation, Hypoxia
- Referred Cardiac Pain occurs in the T1-T4 dermatomes mainly on left
- E.g. left arm and left jaw as well as chest pain
Why might a myocardial infarction cause pain which is perceived as being in your left arm or jaw?
- Due to the Visceral sensory nerve supply to the heart being derived from T1-T4 dermatomes which also supply the arm and jaw. Stimulation of one may cause perceived stimulation of another.
Describe the Base of the Heart
- True posterior surface of the heart
- Sits against oesophagus
- Composed primarily of left atrium