Middle mediastinum
Last revised by Maciej Debowski on 18 Mar 2020
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Shen S, Debowski M, Hacking C, et al. Middle mediastinum. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 30 Mar 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-30574
Permalink:
rID:
30574
Article created:
19 Aug 2014, Shi Hong Shen
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Shi Hong Shen had no recorded disclosures.
View Shi Hong Shen's current disclosuresLast revised:
18 Mar 2020, Maciej Debowski
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Maciej Debowski had no recorded disclosures.
View Maciej Debowski's current disclosuresRevisions:
21 times, by 8 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
The middle mediastinum is an artificial space of the mediastinum divided from the remainder of the extra-pleural intrathoracic cavity by arbitrary lines. It forms the largest component of the inferior mediastinum.
Gross anatomy
Relations
- superiorly: superior mediastinum, divided by the thoracic plane
- anteriorly: anterior mediastinum
- posteriorly: posterior mediastinum
Contents
- pericardium
- heart
- great vessels joining the heart
- ascending aorta
- pulmonary trunk
- the lower half of the superior vena cava
- tracheal bifurcation and both main bronchi
- phrenic nerves
- cardiac plexus
- tracheobronchial lymph nodes
Related pathology
- malignancy
- lymphadenopathy
- hiatus hernia
- thoracic aortic aneurysm
- thyroid mass
- bronchogenic cysts
- esophageal duplication cysts
References
- 1. McMINN. Lasts Anatomy Regional and Applied. CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE. (2003) ISBN:B0084AQDG8. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Moore KL, Agur AMR, Dalley AF. Clinically oriented anatomy. LWW. ISBN:1451119453. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Brett W. Carter, Marcelo F. Benveniste, Rachna Madan, Myrna C. Godoy, Patricia M. de Groot, Mylene T. Truong, Melissa L. Rosado-de-Christenson, Edith M. Marom. ITMIG Classification of Mediastinal Compartments and Multidisciplinary Approach to Mediastinal Masses. (2017) RadioGraphics. 37 (2): 413-436. doi:10.1148/rg.2017160095 - Pubmed
Related articles: Anatomy: Thoracic
- thoracic skeleton
- thoracic cage
- thoracic spine
- articulations
- muscles of the thorax
- diaphragm
- intercostal space
- intercostal muscles
- variant anatomy
- spaces of the thorax
- thoracic viscera
- lower respiratory tract
-
heart
- cardiac chambers
- heart valves
- cardiac fibrous skeleton
- innervation of the heart
- development of the heart
- cardiac wall
-
pericardium
- epicardium
- epicardial fat pad
- pericardial space
- oblique pericardial sinus
- transverse pericardial sinus
-
pericardial recesses
- aortic recesses
- pulmonic recesses
- postcaval recess
- pulmonary venous recesses
- pericardial ligaments
- myocardium
- endocardium
-
pericardium
- esophagus
- thymus
- breast
- arterial supply of the thorax
-
thoracic aorta (development)
-
ascending aorta
-
aortic root
- aortic annulus
-
coronary arteries
- coronary arterial dominance
- myocardial segments
-
left main coronary artery (LMCA)
- ramus intermedius artery (RI)
-
circumflex artery (LCx)
- obtuse marginal branches (OM1, OM2, etc))
- Kugel's artery
-
left anterior descending artery (LAD)
- diagonal branches (D1, D2, etc)
- septal perforators (S1, S2, etc)
-
right coronary artery (RCA)
- conus artery
- sinoatrial nodal artery
- acute marginal branches (AM1, AM2, etc)
- inferior interventricular artery (PDA)
- posterior left ventricular artery (PLV)
- congenital anomalies
- sinotubular junction
-
aortic root
- aortic arch
- aortic isthmus
- descending aorta
-
ascending aorta
- pulmonary trunk
-
thoracic aorta (development)
- venous drainage of the thorax
- superior vena cava (SVC)
- inferior vena cava (IVC)
-
coronary veins
-
cardiac veins which drain into the coronary sinus
- great cardiac vein
- middle cardiac vein
- small cardiac vein
- posterior vein of the left ventricle
- vein of Marshall (oblique vein of the left atrium)
- anterior cardiac veins
- venae cordis minimae (smallest cardiac veins or thebesian veins)
-
cardiac veins which drain into the coronary sinus
- pulmonary veins
- bronchial veins
- thoracoepigastric vein
- lymphatics of the thorax
- innervation of the thorax
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