1. Mediastinum

2. Mediastinum Superior mediastinum Inferior mediastinum A. Anterior
B. Middle
C. Posterior

3. superior mediastinum: [Green]
Inferior Mediastinum: Below the plane passing from Sternal Angle/Angle Luise
Inferior mediastinum has 3 parts:
Purple: anterior mediastinum;
Yellow: middle mediastinum;
Blue: posterior mediastinum

4. Superior mediastinum
The superior mediastinum is posterior to the manubrium of the sternum and anterior to the bodies of the first four thoracic vertebrae.
The superior mediastinum is continuous with the neck superiorly and with the inferior mediastinum inferiorly.

5. Major structures found in the superior mediastinum
From Posterior to anterior
Layer 1: Esophagus
Layer 2: Trachea
Layer 3: Arch of the aorta with its three large branches
Layer 4: Right and left brachiocephalic veins, Superior vena cava
Layer 5: Thymus

8. Major structures found in the superior mediastinum
Thymus
Right and left brachiocephalic veins
Left superior intercostal vein
Superior vena cava
Arch of the aorta with its three large branches
Trachea
Esophagus

9. Phrenic nerves
Vagus nerves
Left recurrent laryngeal branch of the left vagus nerve
Thoracic duct

10. Superior vena cava
The vertically oriented superior vena cava begins posterior to the lower edge of the right first costal cartilage, where the right and left brachiocephalic veins join, and terminates at the lower edge of the right third costal cartilage, where it joins the right atrium.
The superior vena cava receives the azygos vein immediately before entering the pericardial sac

12. Arch of aorta and its branches
Only the arch of the aorta is in the superior mediastinum.
It begins when the ascending aorta emerges from the pericardial sac and courses upward, backward, and to the left as it passes through the superior mediastinum, ending on the left side at vertebral level TIV/V.

13. Trachea and esophagus
The trachea is a midline structure that is palpable in the jugular notch as it enters the superior mediastinum.
Posterior to it is the esophagus, which is immediately anterior to the vertebral column.

14. Left recurrent laryngeal nerve
The left vagus nerve also gives rise to the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, which arises from it at the inferior margin of the arch of aorta just lateral to the ligamentum arteriosum.
Entering a groove between the trachea and esophagus, the left recurrent laryngeal nerve continues superiorly to enter the neck and terminate in the larynx.

16. CT (Computed tomography)

21. T-3

23. T-4/T5 Sternal angle

24. CT scan inferior to T4/T5 Right Atrium. Left Atrium. Right Ventricle.
Left Ventricle.
Descending Aorta.
Transverse Process of T7.
Right Bronchus.
Left Bronchus

25. Cardiovascular shadows

26. MEDIASTINUM In chest PA view, mediastinum has
Two borders, left and right

27. Heart

28. MEDIASTINAL BORDER Right border is formed by - Form above downwards
Right bracheocephalic vessels
Ascending aorta and superimposed SVC
Right atrium
Inferior vena cava

29. MEDIASTINAL BORDER Left border is formed by - from above downwards
Left bracheocephalic vessels
Aortic arch
Pulmonary trunk
Left atrial appendage
Left ventricle

30. Coronary arteriograms

31. coronary arteriogram

32. Posterior mediastinum

33. Posterior mediastinum
The posterior mediastinum is posterior to the pericardial sac and diaphragm and anterior to the bodies of the mid and lower thoracic vertebrae

34. Major structures in the posterior mediastinum
Esophagus and its associated nerve plexus
Thoracic aorta and its branches
Azygos system of veins
Thoracic duct and associated lymph nodes
Sympathetic trunks
Thoracic splanchnic nerves

35. Esophagus
Relationships to important structures in the posterior mediastinum
1. Posterior to the esophagus, the thoracic duct is on the right side inferiorly, but crosses to the left more superiorly.
2. Esophagus passes immediately posteriorly to the left atrium, separated from it only by pericardium

37. Thoracic aorta
The thoracic portion of the descending aorta (thoracic aorta) begins at the lower edge of vertebra TIV.
Branches of the thoracic aorta
1. Pericardial branches
2. Bronchial branches
3. Esophageal branches
4. Posterior intercostal arteries
5. Superior phrenic arteries
6. Subcostal artery

39. Azygos vein
The azygos vein arises opposite vertebra LI or LII at the junction between the right ascending lumbar vein and the right subcostal vein.
The azygos vein enters the thorax through the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm.
At approximately vertebral level TIV, it arches anteriorly, over the root of the right lung, to join the superior vena cava

41. Thoracic duct in the posterior mediastinum
The thoracic duct is the principal channel through which lymph from most of the body is returned to the venous system.
It begins as a confluence of lymph trunks in the abdomen, sometimes forming a saccular dilation referred to as the cisterna chyli (chyle cistern), which drains the abdominal viscera and walls, pelvis, perineum, and lower limbs.
Thoracic duct empties into the junction of the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins.

43. Sympathetic trunks
Sympathetic trunks consists of two parallel cords punctuated by 11 or 12 ganglia.
Thoracic splanchnic nerves
1. Greater splanchnic nerve
2. Lesser splanchnic nerve
3. Least splanchnic nerve (lowest splanchnic nerve)

45. Anterior mediastinum
The anterior mediastinum is posterior to the body of the sternum and anterior to the pericardial sac
CONTENTS:
Sterno paricardial ligaments
Few lymph nodes
Branches of the internal thoracic vessels.
In infants and children, the anterior mediastinum contains the inferior part of the thymus.