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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the mediastinum in the thoracic cavity?
What is the primary function of the mediastinum in the thoracic cavity?
Which division correctly represents the parts of the inferior mediastinum?
Which division correctly represents the parts of the inferior mediastinum?
What anatomical structure forms the anterior boundary of the superior mediastinum?
What anatomical structure forms the anterior boundary of the superior mediastinum?
What is the posterior boundary of the anterior mediastinum?
What is the posterior boundary of the anterior mediastinum?
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Which vertebrae are associated with the imaginary plane that divides the mediastinum?
Which vertebrae are associated with the imaginary plane that divides the mediastinum?
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What structure lies superior to the anterior mediastinum?
What structure lies superior to the anterior mediastinum?
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Which of the following best describes the inferior boundary of the superior mediastinum?
Which of the following best describes the inferior boundary of the superior mediastinum?
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What is the correct order of the mediastinal divisions, starting from the superior mediastinum?
What is the correct order of the mediastinal divisions, starting from the superior mediastinum?
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Which artery ascends on the right side of the trachea?
Which artery ascends on the right side of the trachea?
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Where does the left recurrent laryngeal nerve arise from?
Where does the left recurrent laryngeal nerve arise from?
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Which vein passes obliquely along the upper border of the arch of the aorta?
Which vein passes obliquely along the upper border of the arch of the aorta?
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Which nerve descends on the left side of the arch of the aorta?
Which nerve descends on the left side of the arch of the aorta?
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In which anatomical relationship does the trachea lie?
In which anatomical relationship does the trachea lie?
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How does the right phrenic nerve descend in relation to the right brachiocephalic vein?
How does the right phrenic nerve descend in relation to the right brachiocephalic vein?
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Which structures can arise from the two vagi?
Which structures can arise from the two vagi?
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Which structure is posterior to the major vessels in the mediastinum?
Which structure is posterior to the major vessels in the mediastinum?
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Which structure is located most posteriorly in the superior mediastinum?
Which structure is located most posteriorly in the superior mediastinum?
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What does the anterior mediastinum contain?
What does the anterior mediastinum contain?
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Which structure ascends behind the left border of the esophagus?
Which structure ascends behind the left border of the esophagus?
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Which structures are located in the posterior mediastinum?
Which structures are located in the posterior mediastinum?
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Which nerves form the esophageal plexus?
Which nerves form the esophageal plexus?
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What is located to the left of the ascending aorta?
What is located to the left of the ascending aorta?
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Which structure is found in the middle mediastinum?
Which structure is found in the middle mediastinum?
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Which of the following structures crosses in front of the lower part of the aorta?
Which of the following structures crosses in front of the lower part of the aorta?
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Which structure is located in the anterior mediastinum?
Which structure is located in the anterior mediastinum?
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What is found in the middle mediastinum?
What is found in the middle mediastinum?
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Which of the following structures lies posterior to the ascending aorta?
Which of the following structures lies posterior to the ascending aorta?
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Which vessels are associated with the lower half of the superior vena cava in the mediastinum?
Which vessels are associated with the lower half of the superior vena cava in the mediastinum?
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Where does the thoracic duct ascend in relation to the esophagus?
Where does the thoracic duct ascend in relation to the esophagus?
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Which structure is considered the most posterior in the superior mediastinum?
Which structure is considered the most posterior in the superior mediastinum?
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What type of nerves form the esophageal plexus?
What type of nerves form the esophageal plexus?
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Which structure is located most anteriorly in the inferior mediastinum?
Which structure is located most anteriorly in the inferior mediastinum?
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What is the inferior boundary of the superior mediastinum?
What is the inferior boundary of the superior mediastinum?
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Which structure does NOT form the anterior boundary of the inferior mediastinum?
Which structure does NOT form the anterior boundary of the inferior mediastinum?
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Which part of the mediastinum is located between the thoracic inlet and the diaphragm?
Which part of the mediastinum is located between the thoracic inlet and the diaphragm?
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How is the inferior mediastinum further categorized?
How is the inferior mediastinum further categorized?
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Which of the following correctly describes the superior boundary of the superior mediastinum?
Which of the following correctly describes the superior boundary of the superior mediastinum?
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What is located posteriorly to the middle mediastinum?
What is located posteriorly to the middle mediastinum?
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What is the primary anatomical relationship of the pericardium?
What is the primary anatomical relationship of the pericardium?
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Which vertebral levels are indicated to divide the mediastinum?
Which vertebral levels are indicated to divide the mediastinum?
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Which artery descends on the right side of the trachea?
Which artery descends on the right side of the trachea?
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Which nerve descends between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian vein?
Which nerve descends between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian vein?
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How does the left recurrent laryngeal nerve travel in relation to the arch of the aorta?
How does the left recurrent laryngeal nerve travel in relation to the arch of the aorta?
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Which structure lies in front of the esophagus in the mediastinum?
Which structure lies in front of the esophagus in the mediastinum?
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What is the anatomical relationship of the right phrenic nerve?
What is the anatomical relationship of the right phrenic nerve?
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Which vein descends in line with the right brachiocephalic vein?
Which vein descends in line with the right brachiocephalic vein?
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Which of the following nerves arises from the two sympathetic trunks?
Which of the following nerves arises from the two sympathetic trunks?
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What is the relationship of the left phrenic nerve to the left common carotid artery?
What is the relationship of the left phrenic nerve to the left common carotid artery?
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Study Notes
Mediastinum
- The mediastinum separates the two pleural cavities and is located between the sternum and vertebral column.
- It extends from the thoracic inlet to the diaphragm and is partitioned into a superior and inferior section.
- The inferior mediastinum consists of three sections:
- Anterior mediastinum
- Middle mediastinum
- Posterior mediastinum
Superior mediastinum
- Contains the arch of the aorta and the brachiocephalic, left common carotid, and left subclavian arteries.
- Also houses the right and left vagi and phrenic nerves, as well as the left recurrent laryngeal nerve.
- The trachea and esophagus are also located in this region, along with the thoracic duct and lymph nodes.
Anterior Medistinum
- Contains the superior and inferior sternopericardial ligaments, lymph nodes, and remnants of the thalamus gland.
Middle Medistinum
- The heart and pericardium are located in the middle mediastinum, along with the ascending aorta, pulmonary trunk, pulmonary arteries and veins, and the superior and inferior vena cava.
- This section also contains the bifurcation of the trachea and right and left bronchi, as well as the phrenic nerves and pericardiophrenic vessels.
Posterior Medistinum
- Consists of the descending aorta, azygos and hemiazygos veins, esophagus, vagus nerves, splanchnic nerves, thoracic duct, and posterior mediastinal lymph nodes.
Mediastinum
- The mediastinum is the space between the two pleural cavities, it extends from the sternum to the vertebral column.
- It extends from the thoracic inlet above to the diaphragm below.
- It is divided into two parts: superior mediastinum and inferior mediastinum.
- The inferior mediastinum is further divided into anterior, middle and posterior mediastinum.
Superior mediastinum
-
Boundaries:
- Superiorly: Thoracic inlet, 1st rib
- Inferiorly: Imaginary plane from sternal angle to the disc between 4th & 5th thoracic vertebrae
- Anteriorly: Manubrium sterni
- Posteriorly: Upper four thoracic vertebrae
- On Each Side: Parietal pleura
-
Content:
-
Arteries:
- Arch of the aorta
- Brachiocephalic, left common carotid, and left subclavian arteries
-
Veins:
- Right brachiocephalic vein
- Left brachiocephalic vein
- Upper half of the superior vena cava
-
Nerves:
- 2 Vagi nerves
- Phrenic nerves
- Left recurrent laryngeal nerve
- Cardiac branches
-
Tubes:
- Trachea
- Esophagus
- Thoracic duct
-
Lymph Nodes:
- Brachiocephalic group
- Paratracheal group
- Superior tracheobronchial group
-
Gland:
- Thymus
-
Arteries:
Inferior mediastinum
-
Boundaries:
- Superiorly: Imaginary plane extending from the sternal angle to the disc between the 4th & 5th thoracic vertebrae
- Inferiorly: Diaphragm
- Anteriorly: Body of the sternum
- Posteriorly: Lower eight thoracic vertebrae
- On Each Side: Mediastinal layer of the parietal pleura
-
Content:
-
Anterior mediastinum:
- Superior & inferior sternopericardial ligaments
- Two to three lymph nodes
- Part of thymus gland (in the anterior superior mediastinum)
-
Middle mediastinum:
- Heart & pericardium
- Ascending aorta
- Pulmonary trunk
- Right & left pulmonary arteries
- Four pulmonary veins
- Lower half of the superior vena cava
- Uppermost part of the inferior vena cava
- Bifurcation of the trachea
- Right & left principal bronchi
- Right & left phrenic nerves & pericardiophrenic vessels
- Inferior tracheobronchial lymph nodes
-
Posterior mediastinum:
- Descending thoracic aorta & posterior intercostal arteries
- Azygos & hemiazygos veins & posterior intercostal veins
- Esophagus
- Two vagi nerves forming the esophageal plexus
- Splanchnic nerves
- Thoracic duct
- Posterior mediastinal lymph nodes
-
Anterior mediastinum:
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