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Questions and Answers
What is contained within the anterior mediastinum?
What is contained within the anterior mediastinum?
Which structures are found in the middle mediastinum?
Which structures are found in the middle mediastinum?
What is the location of the posterior mediastinum?
What is the location of the posterior mediastinum?
Which of the following structures is NOT found in the posterior mediastinum?
Which of the following structures is NOT found in the posterior mediastinum?
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Which of the following correctly describes the middle mediastinum?
Which of the following correctly describes the middle mediastinum?
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Which structure is found in the superior mediastinum?
Which structure is found in the superior mediastinum?
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What marks the superior boundary of the superior mediastinum?
What marks the superior boundary of the superior mediastinum?
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Which of the following best describes the location of the mediastinum?
Which of the following best describes the location of the mediastinum?
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What is the main function of the thymus?
What is the main function of the thymus?
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What is contained in the middle mediastinum?
What is contained in the middle mediastinum?
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Which nerve is associated with the left recurrent laryngeal nerve and located in the superior mediastinum?
Which nerve is associated with the left recurrent laryngeal nerve and located in the superior mediastinum?
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Study Notes
Definition
- The mediastinum is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity positioned between the pleural cavities and lungs.
Boundaries
- Laterally: Bounded by pleural cavities.
- Anteriorly: Bounded by the sternum and transversus thoracis muscles.
- Posteriorly: Bounded by the vertebral column.
Divisions
- The mediastinum is divided into four sections: superior, anterior, middle, and posterior mediastinum.
Superior Mediastinum
Boundaries
- Superior Boundary: Oblique plane of the first rib.
- Inferior Boundary: Line from the sternal angle to the intervertebral disk between T4 and T5 vertebrae.
Contents
- Major vessels include the superior vena cava and brachiocephalic veins.
- Arterial structure includes the arch of the aorta.
- Other contents are the thoracic duct, trachea, esophagus, vagus nerves, left recurrent laryngeal nerve, phrenic nerve, and thymus gland.
Thymus
- A lymphoid organ crucial for T lymphocyte development and immunocompetence.
- Secretes thymic hormones to support the maturation of T cells.
- Undergoes involution after puberty.
Anterior Mediastinum
- Located anterior to the pericardium and posterior to the sternum and transverse thoracic muscles.
- Contains remnants of the thymus gland, lymph nodes, fat, and connective tissue.
Middle Mediastinum
- Positioned between the right and left pleural cavities.
- Houses the heart, pericardium, phrenic nerves, and the roots of major vessels such as the aorta, pulmonary arteries, veins, and venae cavae.
- Contains the arch of the azygos vein and main bronchi.
Posterior Mediastinum
- Located posterior to the pericardium and between the mediastinal pleurae.
- Contains the esophagus, thoracic aorta, azygos vein, hemiazygos vein, thoracic duct, vagus nerves, sympathetic trunks, and splanchnic nerves.
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Description
Test your knowledge about the mediastinum and its anatomical divisions. This quiz covers definitions, boundaries, and the four main sections of the mediastinum, helping you understand the thoracic anatomy better.
