Thoracic plane
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The thoracic plane is an artificial line used to divide the mediastinum into the superior mediastinum and the inferior mediastinum.
It is defined as a horizontal line that runs from the manubriosternal joint (sternal angle) to the inferior endplate of T4 1. Above the thoracic plane is the superior mediastinum and below the thoracic plane is the inferior mediastinum.
A number of important structures are transected by the thoracic plane 1:
- bifurcation of the trachea
- aortic arch (inner concavity)
- pulmonary trunk bifurcation
- azygos vein drains into the SV, arming over the right main bronchus
- thoracic duct moves from right to left hand side posterior to the oesophagus
- ligamentum arteriosum
- cardiac plexus (superficial and deep parts)
- termination of the pre-vertebral fascia and pre-tracheal fascia
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-<p>The<strong> thoracic plane</strong> is an artificial line used to divide the<a href="/articles/mediastinum" title=" mediastinum "> mediastinum </a>into the <a href="/articles/superior-mediastinum" title="superior mediastinum ">superior mediastinum </a>and the <a href="/articles/inferior-mediastinum" title="inferior mediastinum">inferior mediastinum</a>.</p><p>It is defined as a horizontal line that runs from the <a href="/articles/manubriosternal-joint" title="manubriosternal joint">manubriosternal joint</a> (sternal angle) to the inferior endplate of T4 <sup>1</sup>. Above the thoracic plane is the superior mediastinum and below the thoracic plane is the inferior mediastinum. </p><p>A number of important structures are transected by the thoracic plane <sup>1</sup>:</p><ul>-<li>bifurcation of the <a href="/articles/trachea" title="trachea">trachea</a>-</li>-<li><a href="/articles/aortic_arch" title="Aortic arch">aortic arch</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/pulmonary-trunk" title="pulmonary trunk">pulmonary trunk</a></li>-<li>-<a href="/articles/azygos-vein" title="Azygos vein">azygos vein</a> drains into the <a href="/articles/superior-vena-cava" title="SVC">SVC</a>-</li>-<li>-<a href="/articles/thoracic-duct" title="thoracic duct">thoracic duct</a> moves from right to left hand side of the <a href="/articles/oesophagus" title="oesophagus">oesophagus</a>-</li>-<li><a href="/articles/ligamentum-arteriosum" title="ligamentum arteriosum">ligamentum arteriosum</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/cardiac-plexus" title="cardiac plexus">cardiac plexus</a></li>-<li>termination of the <a href="/articles/pre-tracheal-fascia" title="pre-tracheal fascia">pre-tracheal fascia</a>-</li>-</ul><h4>Related articles</h4><ul><li><a href="/articles/thoracic-plane-mnemonic" title="Thoracic plane (mnemonic)">thoracic plane (mnemonic)</a></li></ul>- +<p>The<strong> thoracic plane</strong> is an artificial line used to divide the<a href="/articles/mediastinum"> mediastinum </a>into the <a href="/articles/superior-mediastinum">superior mediastinum </a>and the <a href="/articles/inferior-mediastinum">inferior mediastinum</a>.</p><p>It is defined as a horizontal line that runs from the <a href="/articles/manubriosternal-joint">manubriosternal joint</a> (sternal angle) to the inferior endplate of T4 <sup>1</sup>. Above the thoracic plane is the superior mediastinum and below the thoracic plane is the inferior mediastinum. </p><p>A number of important structures are transected by the thoracic plane <sup>1</sup>:</p><ul>
- +<li>bifurcation of the <a href="/articles/trachea">trachea</a>
- +</li>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/aortic-arch">aortic arch</a> (inner concavity)</li>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/pulmonary-trunk">pulmonary trunk</a> bifurcation</li>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/azygos-vein">azygos vein</a> drains into the <a href="/articles/superior-vena-cava">SV</a>, arming over the right main bronchus</li>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/thoracic-duct">thoracic duct</a> moves from right to left hand side posterior to the <a href="/articles/oesophagus">oesophagus</a>
- +</li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/ligamentum-arteriosum">ligamentum arteriosum</a></li>
- +<li>
- +<a href="/articles/cardiac-plexus">cardiac plexus</a> (superficial and deep parts)</li>
- +<li>termination of the <a title="pre-vertebral" href="/articles/pre-vertebral">pre-vertebral</a><a title="pre-vertebral fascia" href="/articles/pre-vertebral-fascia"> fascia</a> and <a href="/articles/pre-tracheal-fascia">pre-tracheal fascia</a>
- +</li>
- +</ul><h4>Related articles</h4><ul><li><a href="/articles/thoracic-plane-mnemonic">thoracic plane (mnemonic)</a></li></ul>
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