What organs are in anterior mediastinum?
Anterior Mediastinum: Organs: thymus. Arteries: internal thoracic branches….Posterior Mediastinum:
- Organs: esophagus.
- Arteries: descending thoracic aorta.
- Veins and lymphatics: azygos hemiazygos veins, thoracic duct.
- Nerves: vagus, splanchnic, sympathetic chain[1][2][8][5]
What structures are in the inferior mediastinum?
Relations
- superiorly: transthoracic plane of Ludwig.
- inferiorly: diaphragm and inferior thoracic aperture.
- laterally: mediastinal pleura and lungs.
- anteriorly: body of the sternum.
- posteriorly: bodies of lower eight thoracic vertebrae, their transverse processes and associated ribs.
What does the anterior mediastinum contain?
The anterior mediastinum is the portion of the mediastinum anterior to the pericardium and below the thoracic plane. It forms the anterior part of the inferior mediastinum, and contains the thymus, lymph nodes, and may contain the portions of a retrosternal thyroid.
What are the contents of superior mediastinum?
The contents of the superior mediastinum includes many organs, vessels and nerves;
- Thymus.
- Trachea.
- Esophagus.
- Aortic arch.
- Brachiocephalic trunk.
- Left common carotid artery.
- Left subclavian artery.
- Internal thoracic arteries.
What is the anterior mediastinum?
What are the anterior and posterior boundaries of the mediastinum?
Superior mediastinum: anteriorly: the sternum. posteriorly: the upper thoracic vertebra. superiorly: thoracic inlet. laterally: apices of the lungs.
What is the inferior mediastinum?
The inferior mediastinum is the box-shaped space in the mediastinum below the transthoracic plane of Ludwig between the wedge-shaped superior mediastinum above and the diaphragm and inferior thoracic aperture below.
Is the inferior vena cava in the mediastinum?
The middle mediastinum contains the vagus nerve, recurrent laryngeal nerve, heart, proximal pulmonary arteries and veins, trachea and root of the bronchial tree and associated bronchial lymph nodes, and superior and inferior vena cava. …
What is anterior mediastinal soft tissue?
The normal contents of the anterior mediastinum include the thymus, lymph nodes, adipose tissue, nerves, vessels, and sometimes downward extension of the thyroid from the neck. Anterior mediastinal masses generally arise from these structures.
What is superior mediastinum?
The superior mediastinum is the region sandwiched between the pleural sac on each side above an imaginary line from the angle of Louis in front to the fourth/fifth thoracic intervertebral disc behind.
What separates superior and inferior mediastinum?
The transverse thoracic plane, thoracic plane, plane of Louis or plane of Ludwig is an important anatomical plane at the level of the sternal angle and the T4/T5 intervertebral disc. It serves as an imaginary boundary that separates the superior and inferior mediastinum.
What is Sternopericardial ligament?
sternopericardial ligaments: these are weak adhesion that are variably present that connect the anterior fibrous pericardium to the posterior surface of the upper and lower sternum.
What is A mediastinoscope and what does it do?
The thymus gland, a part of the immune system This area can be examined with a tool called a mediastinoscope. This is a long, thin, flexible tube that has a light and a tiny camera. It lets a healthcare provider see the organs and structures of the mediastinum. The images can also be sent to a computer screen and recorded.
What are the major organs of the posterior mediastinum?
Major structures in the posterior mediastinum include: 1 Organs: esophagus and its associated nerve plexus 2 Arteries: thoracic aorta and its branches 3 Veins and lymphatics: azygos vein, hemiazygos vein, thoracic duct and associated lymph nodes 4 Nerve: vagus nerve, sympathetic trunks and thoracic splanchnic nerves
Where is the incision for a mediastinoscopy made?
The healthcare provider will make a small cut (incision) just above your breastbone (sternum). He or she will use a finger to make a passageway into the mediastinum and examine the lymph nodes by touch. The mediastinoscope will be put through the passageway.
Where is the mediastinum located in the chest?
What is mediastinoscopy? A mediastinoscopy is a procedure used to examine the mediastinum. This is the space behind the breastbone (sternum) in the middle of the chest, between the 2 lungs.