Mediastinum
Updates to Article Attributes
The mediastinum contains is a space in the thorax that contains a group of non-delineated organs and their surrounding connective tissue. It lies in the midline of the chest between the pleural surfaces of each lung and extends from the sternum to the vertebral column.
Gross anatomy
The mediastinum contains all the thoracic viscera except the lungs: heart and great vessels, oesophagus, trachea, phrenic nerve, cardiac nerve, thoracic duct, thymus, and mediastinal lymph nodes.
Anatomical division
The mediastinum can be divided into parts based on their relationship to the pericardium:
-
superior mediastinum - above the upper level of the pericardium
, which is at the level of thesternoclavicular notchand plane of Ludwig -
Inferior mediastinum - below the plane of Ludwig
- anterior mediastinum - anterior to the pericardium
- middle mediastinum - within the pericardium
- posterior mediastinum - posterior to the pericardium
Relations
- superiorly - continuous with the loose connective tissue of the neck
- anteriorly - chest wall
- laterally - lungs and pleura
- posteriorly - thoracic spine
- inferiorly - diaphragm
Related pathology
Broadly, pathology that affects the mediastinum can be divided into those that result in a focal mass, or those that result in diffuse disease involving the mediastinum. Additionally, air may track into the mediastinum in pneumomediastinum.
The differential diagnosis of a focal mediastinal mass is highly dependant on its location within the mediastinum, resulting in specific differential lists for
- thoracic inlet masses
- anterior mediastinal masses
- middle mediastinal masses
- posterior mediastinal masses
Diffuse mediastinal disease can be separated into groups depending on whether the mediastinal disease is smooth or lobulated:
-<p>The <strong>mediastinum</strong> contains a group of non-delineated organs and their surrounding <a href="/articles/connective-tissue">connective tissue</a>. It lies in the midline of the <a href="/articles/chest">chest</a> between the <a href="/articles/pleural-surfaces">pleural surfaces</a> of each <a href="/articles/lung">lung</a> and extends from the <a href="/articles/sternum">sternum</a> to the <a href="/articles/vertebral-column">vertebral column</a>. </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The mediastinum contains all the thoracic viscera except the lungs: <a href="/articles/heart_and_great_vessels">heart and great vessels</a>, <a href="/articles/oesophagus">oesophagus</a>, <a href="/articles/trachea">trachea</a>, <a href="/articles/phrenic-nerve">phrenic nerve</a>, <a href="/articles/cardiac-nerve">cardiac nerve</a>, <a href="/articles/thoracic-duct">thoracic duct</a>, <a href="/articles/thymus">thymus</a>, and <a href="/articles/mediastinal-lymph-nodes">mediastinal lymph nodes</a>.</p><h5>Anatomical division</h5><p>The mediastinum can be divided into parts based on their relationship to the <a href="/articles/pericardium">pericardium</a>:</p><ul>- +<p>The <strong>mediastinum</strong> is a space in the thorax that contains a group of non-delineated organs and their surrounding <a href="/articles/connective-tissue">connective tissue</a>. It lies in the midline of the <a href="/articles/chest">chest</a> between the <a href="/articles/pleural-surfaces">pleural surfaces</a> of each <a href="/articles/lung">lung</a> and extends from the <a href="/articles/sternum">sternum</a> to the <a href="/articles/vertebral-column">vertebral column</a>. </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The mediastinum contains all the thoracic viscera except the lungs: <a href="/articles/heart_and_great_vessels">heart and great vessels</a>, <a href="/articles/oesophagus">oesophagus</a>, <a href="/articles/trachea">trachea</a>, <a href="/articles/phrenic-nerve">phrenic nerve</a>, <a href="/articles/cardiac-nerve">cardiac nerve</a>, <a href="/articles/thoracic-duct">thoracic duct</a>, <a href="/articles/thymus">thymus</a>, and <a href="/articles/mediastinal-lymph-nodes">mediastinal lymph nodes</a>.</p><h5>Anatomical division</h5><p>The mediastinum can be divided into parts based on their relationship to the <a href="/articles/pericardium">pericardium</a>:</p><ul>
-<a href="/articles/superior-mediastinum">superior mediastinum</a> - above the upper level of the <a title="Pericardium" href="/articles/pericardium">pericardium</a>, which is at the level of the <a href="/articles/sternoclavicular-notch">sternoclavicular notch</a> and <a href="/articles/clavicles">clavicles</a>- +<a href="/articles/superior-mediastinum">superior mediastinum</a> - above the upper level of the <a href="/articles/pericardium">pericardium</a> and <a href="/articles/plane-of-ludwig">plane of Ludwig</a>
- +<a href="/articles/clavicles">Inferior mediastinum</a> - below the <a href="/articles/plane-of-ludwig">plane of Ludwig</a><ul>
- +<li>
-<a href="/articles/posterior-mediastinum">posterior mediastinum</a> - posterior to the pericardium</li>- +<a href="/articles/posterior-mediastinum">posterior mediastinum</a> - posterior to the pericardium </li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
-<li>inferiorly - <a title="Diaphragm" href="/articles/diaphragm">diaphragm</a>- +<li>inferiorly - <a href="/articles/diaphragm">diaphragm</a>
References changed:
- 6. Torronto notes https://torontonotes.ca/medical-imaging/chest/mediastinum/felsons-divisions-of-the-mediastinum/
Tags changed:
- anatomy rewrite