Posterior mediastinum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Posterior mediastinum | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Mediastinum | |
 |
|
| A transverse section of the thorax, showing the contents of the middle and the posterior mediastinum. | |
| Latin | mediastinum posterius |
| Gray's | subject #239 1093 |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | m_06/12518985 |
The posterior mediastinum is an irregular triangular space running parallel with the vertebral column.
Contents |
[edit] Boundaries
It is bounded:
- anteriorally by the pericardium (in front of)
- inferiorally by the thoracic surface of the diaphragm (below).
- superiorally by the transverse thoracic plane (above)
- posteriorally by the vertebral column from the lower border of the fourth to the twelfth thoracic vertebra (behind).
- laterally: by the mediastinal pleura (on either side)
[edit] Content
- artery
- thoracic part of the descending aorta
- veins
- azygos vein
- the hemiazygos vein and the accessory hemiazygos vein
- nerves
- vagus nerve
- splanchnic nerves (but not the sympathetic chain[1])
- esophagus
- thoracic duct
- some lymph glands
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Norman/Georgetown thoraxlesson5 - "Posterior Mediastinum"
[edit] External links
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
 |
This anatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Thorax: Mediastinum (Superior, Anterior, Middle, Posterior) - Superior thoracic aperture - Inferior thoracic aperture - Triangle of auscultation - Intercostal space
Thoracic diaphragm: Caval opening - Esophageal hiatus - Aortic hiatus - Central tendon
Abdomen: McBurney's point - Lumbar triangle
Perineum: Urogenital triangle - Anal triangle - Superficial perineal pouch - Perineal membrane - Deep perineal pouch - Urogenital diaphragm - Superior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm - Ischiorectal fossa - Pudendal canal
