004_Gross Anatomy of the Lungs and Mediastinum – Vocabulary Flashcards

80 vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical structures, spaces, and clinical concepts related to the lungs, pleurae, hilum, and mediastinum.

Lungs

Vital organs of respiration that oxygenate blood and fill the pulmonary cavities.

Pulmonary cavities

Bilateral thoracic spaces that contain the lungs and their pleurae.

Trachea

Airway tube extending from the larynx to the T4/T5 level where it splits into primary bronchi.

Tracheal bifurcation

Division of the trachea at T4/T5 (sternal angle) into right and left primary bronchi.

Carina

Cartilaginous ridge at the tracheal bifurcation lying slightly left of the midline.

Primary (principal) bronchus

First airway branch entering each lung; the right is shorter, wider, and more vertical than the left.

Bronchioles

Air passages under 1 mm in diameter that lack cartilage and branch from bronchi.

Respiratory bronchioles

Terminal airway branches (<0.5 mm) that possess alveoli and participate in gas exchange.

Alveolar ducts

Last thin-walled passages leading to alveolar sacs where gas exchange occurs.

Pleura

Double-layered serous membrane lining pulmonary cavities and covering lungs.

Visceral pleura

Inner pleural layer tightly adherent to the lung surface.

Parietal pleura

Outer pleural layer lining thoracic walls, diaphragm, and mediastinum.

Pleural cavity

Potential space between pleural layers containing lubricating serous fluid.

Costomediastinal recess

Small pleural space where costal pleura meets mediastinal pleura anteriorly.

Costodiaphragmatic recess

Deep pleural recess at junction of costal and diaphragmatic pleurae filled during inspiration.

Apex of lung

Superior tip of lung extending into the root of the neck above the clavicle.

Diaphragmatic surface (base)

Broad inferior lung surface resting on the diaphragm.

Costal surface

Convex lung surface contacting ribs and intercostal muscles.

Mediastinal surface

Medial lung surface facing the mediastinum.

Hilum (lung)

Wedge-shaped area on mediastinal surface where structures enter or leave the lung.

Root of lung

Bundle of bronchi, vessels, nerves, and lymphatics passing through the hilum.

Cardiac notch

Indentation in the anterior border of the left lung accommodating the heart.

Lingula

Tongue-like projection of the left superior lobe extending below the cardiac notch.

Oblique fissure

Major lung fissure running inferoanteriorly; present in both lungs.

Horizontal fissure

Transverse fissure separating the superior and middle lobes of the right lung.

Superior lobe (right)

Uppermost lobe of the right lung located above the horizontal fissure.

Middle lobe

Right lung lobe situated between horizontal and oblique fissures.

Inferior lobe

Lowest lobe of each lung located below the oblique fissure.

Thoracic plane (T4/T5)

Imaginary horizontal plane through the sternal angle and T4/5 disc dividing superior and inferior mediastinum.

Sternal angle (Angle of Louis)

Joint between manubrium and body of sternum at level of 2nd costal cartilage.

Pulmonary artery

Vessel carrying deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Pulmonary vein

Vessel returning oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.

Bronchial artery

Small systemic artery supplying oxygenated blood to lung tissue.

Bronchial vein

Vein draining deoxygenated blood from lung tissue to the azygos system.

Pulmonary plexus

Autonomic nerve network surrounding the roots of the lungs.

Mediastinum

Central thoracic compartment between pulmonary cavities containing all other thoracic organs.

Superior mediastinum

Portion of mediastinum above T4/T5 plane housing aortic arch, great veins, trachea, and more.

Inferior mediastinum

Mediastinal region below T4/T5 plane subdivided into anterior, middle, and posterior parts.

Anterior mediastinum

Narrow space between sternum and pericardium containing thymus (in youth), fat, and vessels.

Middle mediastinum

Inferior mediastinal compartment bounded by pericardium; contains heart and great vessels.

Posterior mediastinum

Compartment between pericardium and vertebral column housing esophagus, thoracic duct, etc.

Aortic arch

Curved continuation of ascending aorta giving rise to major branches in the superior mediastinum.

Brachiocephalic artery

First branch of the aortic arch supplying right head, neck, and upper limb.

Left common carotid artery

Middle branch of the aortic arch supplying the left side of head and neck.

Left subclavian artery

Third branch of the aortic arch supplying the left upper limb.

Brachiocephalic veins

Paired veins formed by internal jugular and subclavian veins that unite to form the SVC.

Thoracic duct

Largest lymphatic vessel draining most of the body into the left venous angle.

Thymus gland

Lymphoid organ in anterior mediastinum prominent in children and involutes after puberty.

Phrenic nerve

Motor and sensory nerve to the diaphragm coursing over the pericardium.

Vagus nerve

Cranial nerve X providing parasympathetic innervation to thoracic and abdominal organs.

Azygos vein

Unpaired vein on the right posterior thoracic wall draining into the SVC.

Hemiazygos vein

Vein on the left that crosses to join the azygos vein, draining lower left thorax.

Accessory hemiazygos vein

Vein draining the upper left posterior thorax into the azygos system.

Descending thoracic aorta

Portion of aorta traveling inferiorly along left vertebral bodies within the posterior mediastinum.

Esophagus

Muscular tube conveying food from pharynx to stomach; lies posterior to trachea.

Pulmonary trunk

Large vessel arising from the right ventricle that bifurcates into right and left pulmonary arteries.

Right hilum arrangement (Right Anterior)

In the right lung hilum, the pulmonary artery lies anterior to the bronchus.

Left hilum arrangement (Left Superior)

In the left lung hilum, the pulmonary artery lies superior to the bronchus.

Costophrenic angle

Acute angle where the diaphragm meets the rib cage on a chest radiograph.

Costocardiac angle

Radiographic angle between the heart border and the diaphragm.

Hilum contents

Principal bronchus, pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins, bronchial vessels, nerves, and lymphatics.

Pleural reflection

Line along which parietal pleura changes direction, such as at the hilum.

Pulmonary ligament

Double fold of pleura hanging inferior to the hilum anchoring lung to mediastinum.

Cervical pleura

Dome-shaped extension of parietal pleura into the root of the neck over the lung apex.

Mediastinal pleura

Portion of parietal pleura lining the mediastinum.

Diaphragmatic pleura

Part of parietal pleura covering the diaphragm.

Costal pleura

Segment of parietal pleura lining the inner surfaces of the ribs.

Tracheobronchial tree

Collective branching airway system from trachea through bronchi to bronchioles.

Segmental (tertiary) bronchi

Bronchi that supply individual bronchopulmonary segments of the lung.

CT scan (axial view)

Cross-sectional imaging slice viewed as if looking up from the patient’s feet.

Chest radiograph (PA view)

Standard posterior-anterior X-ray used to assess thoracic structures.

Foreign body aspiration

Entry of a solid object into the airway, most often lodging in the right primary bronchus.

Lobar pneumonia

Infection producing consolidation of a single lung lobe visible on imaging.

Spinous process

Posterior bony projection of a vertebra seen as a midline marker on X-ray.

Superior vena cava (SVC)

Large vein draining head, neck, and upper limbs into the right atrium.

Ascending aorta

Initial upward portion of the aorta emerging from the left ventricle.

Serous fluid

Lubricating liquid within pleural cavity allowing friction-free lung movement.

Midaxillary line

Vertical surface-marking line through the midpoint of the axilla.

Thoracic inlet

Superior opening of thoracic cavity bordered by T1, first rib, and manubrium.

Radiographic right/left convention

On axial CT images, the patient’s right side appears on the viewer’s left and vice versa.