KINE1102- midterm lecture 3

whatare the subspaces of the mediastinum

1) superior
2) inferior

3 spaces of the inferior mediastinum

1) anterior
2) middle
3) superior

Describe the components in the inferior anterior mediastinum

Infront of the heart is adipose tissue
thymus gland--> development of immune system
Lymph nodes, connective tissue

The superior mediastinum

Part of great vessels and corresponding branches
Trachea and esophagus
Aortic arch: brachiocephalic trunk
- left common coratoid artery
-left subclavian artery
- L&R internal Jugular veins
Nerve wise: L&R vagus nerves
L&R Phrenic vagus nerves: go to diaphragm and provide motor innervation (C3,C4,C5 keeps the diaphragm alive)

The vagus nerve and it's branches

start at the brainstem (cranial nerves), travels through suprior and middle inferior mediastinum
Right Recurrent laryngeal nerve: branch from vagus nerve and loops around brachiocephalic trunk and goes back up to larynx
Left reccurent laryngeal nerve: loops much lower and loops underneath arch of the aorta and back to larynx

Middle mediastinum

Heart and the pericardium of the heart
Starting point of great vessel
phrenic nerves
hilar structures
innervation and cardiac plexus
primary bronchi

Posterior mediastinum

Azygous vein: drains venous blood behind chest wall, on the right
Thoracic duct: drains most of lymph from body
Descending aorta: left hand side
Esophagus: sits in the front
goes from superior to posterior mediastina
Esophageal plexus: autonomic plexus

The Thoracic duct

Starts in the abdomen as this sac dumping lymph from the bottom half of the body and goes up travelling through posterior and superior mediastinum
Left lymphatic duct: left side of head, neck, chest, upper limb, abdomen, both lower extremeties
Right lymphatic duct: right side of head, neck, chesy and upper extremity

The Esophagus

starts in the superior mediastinum (oral cavity) to posterior mediastinum
starts central to the right and to the left
goes to the front and behind thoracic aorta

Left vagus nerve-> anterior vagus trunk
Rught vagus nerve-> posterior vagal trunk