Mediastinum

1. Thoracic inlet
2. Transverse thoracic plane
3. Lungs

Annotations:

• Ascends behind sternum on the right, passes behind trachea and oesohpagus and to the left side. Arches over LEFT bronchus and LEFT pulmonary artery

1. Brachiocephalic trunk
   1. R common carotid
   2. R subclavian
2. L common carotid
3. L subclavian

1. Brachiocephalic veins
   1. IJV
   2. Subclavians
   3. R lymphatic duct
   4. L superior intercostal vein
   5. Thoracic duct (LEFT)
2. Azygous vein

Annotations:

• descends between RIGHT common carotid and RIGHT subclavian arteries

1. RIGHT recurrent laryngeal

   Annotations:

   • Branches off vagus and loops under RIGHT subclavian and ascends to larynx, running lateral to trachea
2. Posterior oesophageal plexus
3. Anterior cardiac plexus
4. RIGHT pulmonary plexus

Annotations:

• Descends between LEFT common carotid and LEFT subclavian arteries

1. LEFT recurrent laryngeal

   Annotations:

   • Branches off vagus and loops underneath arch of aorta posterior to the ligamentum arteriosum, then ascends to larynx, running lateral and between trachea and oesphagus
2. LEFT pulmonary plexus
3. Anterior oesophageal plexus
4. Posterior cardiac plexus

Annotations:

• Descend anterolaterally to vagus nerves

Annotations:

• Lies between trachea and vertebrae

1. Aortic constriction

   Annotations:

   • At bifurcation of trachea/arch of aorta (T4)

1. Transverse thoracic plane
2. Diaphragm
3. T5-T12
4. Lungs/ mediastinal pleura
5. Body of sternum

Annotations:

• Large in childhood, as lots of T cells maturing. Atrophies in adulthood

1. Pericardium

1. Body of sternum
2. Transverse thoracic plane
3. Anterior surface of pericardium
4. Diaphragm
5. Lungs/ mediastinal pleura

1. T5-T12
2. Posterior surface of pericadium
3. Transverse thoracic plane
4. Diaphragm

Annotations:

• Makes impression against left lung

1. Paired intercostal arteries
2. Bronchial branches
3. Oesophageal branches
4. Pericardial branches
5. Diaphragmatic branches
6. Pierces diaphragm

   Annotations:

   • "behind" diaphragm so muscle does not constrict aorta. Level T12

1. Hemiazygos vein

   Annotations:

   • Drains LEFT intercostal veins 8/9 - 12
2. Accessory hemiazygos vein

   Annotations:

   • Drains LEFT posterior intercostal veins 4-7/8
3. Vertebral venous plexus
4. Mediastinal veins
5. Oesophageal veins
6. Bronchial veins

Annotations:

• Posterior to oesophagus

Annotations:

• Diaphragmatic constricton

1. Posterior trunk
2. Anterior trunk

1. Greater

   Annotations:

   • T5-T9 = foregut sympathetic innervation
2. Lesser

   Annotations:

   • T10-11 = midgut sympathetic innervation
3. Least

   Annotations:

   • T12 = hindgut sympathetic innervation