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The mediastinum (from Medieval Latin: mediastinus, lit. 'midway'; [2] pl.: mediastina) is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity.Surrounded by loose connective tissue, it is a region that contains vital organs and structures within the thorax, namely the heart and its vessels, the esophagus, the trachea, the vagus, phrenic and cardiac nerves, the thoracic duct, the thymus and the lymph ...
Mediastinal shift is an abnormal movement of the mediastinal structures toward one side of the chest cavity. A shift indicates a severe imbalance of pressures inside the chest. [1] Mediastinal shifts are generally caused by increased lung volume, decreased lung volume, or abnormalities in the pleural space.
The mediastinum comprises those organs which lie in the centre of the chest between the lungs. The cavity also contains two openings one at the top, the superior thoracic aperture also called the thoracic inlet , and a lower inferior thoracic aperture which is much larger than the inlet.
The diaphragm typically appears as two separate, curved outlines (hemidiaphragms) on a chest X-ray due to the heart and mediastinum obscuring its central portion. When air accumulates in the mediastinum or peritoneal cavity, it outlines the diaphragm, making its central portion visible and creating the appearance of a continuous line. [4]
Typically, there are two trunks - one on each side of the body. The right bronchomediastinal trunk may connect the right lymphatic duct , and the left trunk to the thoracic duct , [ 1 ] although more frequently, they open independently into the junction of the internal jugular vein and subclavian veins on their respective sides.
In humans, the left and right lungs are completely separated by the mediastinum, and there is no communication between their pleural cavities.Therefore, in cases of a unilateral pneumothorax, the contralateral lung will remain functioning normally unless there is a tension pneumothorax, which may shift the mediastinum and the trachea, kink the great vessels, and eventually collapse the ...
The brachiocephalic artery, brachiocephalic trunk, or innominate artery is an artery of the mediastinum that supplies blood to the right arm, head, and neck. [1] [2] It is the first branch of the aortic arch. [3] Soon after it emerges, the brachiocephalic artery divides into the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery. [4]
Superior mediastinum. The thoracic ducts ascends into the superior mediastinum, reaching 2-3cm superior to the clavicle, [3] as high up as the C7 vertebral level. [5] In the superior mediastinum, the thoracic duct is situated posterior to and to the left of the esophagus. It is situated between the visceral and alar fascia. [5]