Superior mediastinum
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| Superior mediastinum | |
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| Mediastinum | |
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| Transverse section through the upper margin of the second thoracic vertebra. | |
| Latin | mediastinum superius |
| Gray's | subject #239 1090 |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | m_06/12518993 |
The superior mediastinum is that portion of the interpleural space which lies between the manubrium sterni in front, and the upper thoracic vertebrae behind.
Contents |
[edit] Boundaries
It is bounded:
- below by a slightly oblique plane passing backward from the junction of the manubrium and body of the sternum to the lower part of the body of the fourth thoracic vertebra (see also thoracic plane)
- laterally by the pleurae
[edit] Contents
- muscles
- origins of the Sternohyoidei and Sternothyreoidei
- lower ends of the Longi colli
- arteries
- aortic arch
- brachiocephalic artery
- thoracic portions of the left common carotid and the left subclavian
- veins
- innominate veins and
- upper half of the superior vena cava
- left highest intercostal vein
- nerves
- vagus nerve
- cardiac nerve
- superficial and deep cardiac plexuses
- phrenic nerve
- left recurrent nerve
- trachea
- esophagus
- thoracic duct
- remains of the thymus
- some lymph glands
- anterior longitudinal ligament
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Norman/Georgetown thoraxlesson6 - "Superior Mediastinum"
- GPnotebook -2046427076
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 As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.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.
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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
