What is the Mediastinum?
Your mediastinum is a space in your chest that holds your heart and other important structures. It's the middle section of your thoracic cavity, between your left and right pleural cavities which hold your lungs. Read the article to know more.
Nivedita Dar27 May, 2024
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Mediastinum is a central space in the thoracic cage which runs between the pleural sacs of the lungs. This compartment extends longitudinally from the thoracic inlet to the superior surface of the diaphragm. Mediastinum houses many vital structures including the heart, great vessels, trachea and essential nerves. Mediastinum is divided compartmentally and consists of subdivisions that house and support vital structures within the thorax and divides it into Superior Mediastinum, Anterior Mediastinum, Middle Mediastinum and Posterior Mediastinum.
Structures In Mediastinum according to location.
Superior Mediastinum- thymus, trachea, esophagus, brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid, left subclavian artery, superior vena cava, brachiocephalic vein Anterior Mediastinum- thymus, internal thoracic branches, parasternal lymph nodes. Posterior Mediastinum- esophagus, descending thoracic aorta, thoracic duct, vagus, splanchnic Middle Mediastinum- heart and its great vessels, trachea and main bronchi, ascending aorta, pulmonary trunk, phrenic nerve, vagus nerve. Sometimes air can get into mediastinum which can lead to pneumothorax simply meaning air in thoracic cavity which can collapse your lungs sometime can lead to pneumopericardium too or air around heart which restricts filling of heart. This sometimes happens due to an rupture of the esophagus which leads to leakage of air.Mediastinum FAQs
What is Boerhaave’s syndrome?
Esophageal perforation also known as Boerhaave’s syndrome called as is rupture of the esophageal wall. It is most often caused by excessive vomiting in eating disorder such as bulimia. It can cause pneumomediastinum.
What is the most common tumor of anterior mediastinum?
The most common anterior mass is a thymoma. They are generally seen on CT as a round, encapsulated mass, and rarely recur.
What is the most common tumor of posterior mediastinum?
The most common cause posterior mediastinal tumors arise from nerves.
What is the other name of posterior mediastinum?
Posterior mediastinum is also known as paravertebral space.
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