Mediastinum

The mediastinum to German mediastinal space, is a vertically extending Gewebsraum in the chest cavity. It is located in the median plane between the two pleural cavities and extends from the diaphragm to the neck and the spine to the breastbone ( sternum). The adjacent pleura ( pleura) is called mediastinal pleura.

Organs of the mediastinum

In the loose connective tissue of the mediastinum all thoracic organs except the lungs are embedded. One distinguishes an upper and a lower mediastinum in humans. In animals, it incorporates it into a located in front of the heart ( präkardiales ), a cardiac section ( cardiac ) and located behind the heart ( cardiac post ) mediastinum.

The superior mediastinum contains the thymus, heart -related great vessels ( aortic arch and its disposals, pulmonary trunk, superior vena cava ), trachea, esophagus, lymph nodes ( Mediastinallymphknoten, Tracheobronchallymphknoten ) ), thoracic duct, phrenic nerve, vagus nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve.

The space between the aortic arch and left pulmonary artery is called by radiologists aortopulmonales window.

The lower mediastinum is divided into a located between the sternum and the pericardium front, a center with the duty of pericardial heart and a rear between the heart and thoracic spine. The rear contains esophagus, aorta, inferior vena cava, azygos vein, vena hemiazygos, thoracic duct and the vagus nerve. Often front and upper mediastinum be summarized as " front " mediastinum.