Superior and Posterior mediastinum

What are the main components of the superior mediastinum?

• Brachiocephalic veins

• Superior part of SVC

• Arch of aorta

  • brachiocephalic artery 

  • left common carotid artery

  • left subclavian artery

• Vagus and phrenic nerves 

• Recurrent laryngeal nerves 

• Trachea 

• Esophagus 

• Thoracic duct

• Azygos vein 

• sympathetic trunk

What separates the superior and posterior mediastinum?

Level of sternal angle

What is the order from most Anterior to Posterior in the superior mediastinum?

Veins, arteries, trachea, esophagus

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The phrenic nerves go between ____ , lateral to _____ and medial to _____

The phrenic nerves go between subclavian vein and artery, lateral to heart and pericardium, medial to parietal pleura

The vagus nerves (CN X) go between ____ and is medial to ____

The vagus nerve (CN X) run between carotid vein/artery and is medial to phrenic nerves

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The esophagus is ___ to the trachea

posterior

What structures are in the superior and posterior mediastinum?

Esophagus, vagus nerves, aorta + 3 branches, thoracic duct, azygos vein, sympathetic trunk

What structures are in the superior and middle mediastinum?

phrenic nerves, trachea

In the superior mediastinum, the aorta is ____ to the esophagus, as it travels into the posterior mediastinum the aorta is _____ to the esophagus as it deviates to the left.

anterior, posterior

What structures are in the posterior mediastinum?

• Thoracic aorta

• Thoracic duct

• Azygos and hemiazygos veins

• Esophagus

• Thoracic sympathetic trunks

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Deep to the esophagus and thoracic aorta, what are the three main structures from most lateral to medial? 

Sympathetic trunk, Azygos vein, Thoracic duct

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Describe the characteristics of the Azygos system of veins

• Venous draining for thoracic cage

• Posterior intercostal veins feed into Azygos vein

• Empties into posterior aspect of SVC

• Only on RIGHT side

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Describe the characteristics of the Thoracic duct

• Anterior to vertebral bodies

• Deep to esophagus

• Deviates left and drains into the Venus angle (on left side)

What is the Venus angle?

Where the internal jugular and subclavian veins meet.

Describe the characteristics of the Hemiazygos vein

• On left side of body

• Drains into azygos vein

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What are the structures in the posterior intercostals from most superior to inferior?

veins, artery, nerve

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Where do posterior intercostal nerves originate from?

anterior rami of spinal nerves