Posterior mediastinum

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Posterior mediastinum
Mediastinum
A transverse section of the thorax, showing the contents of the middle and the posterior mediastinum.
Latin	mediastinum posterius
Gray's	subject #239 1093
Dorlands/Elsevier	m_06/12518985

The posterior mediastinum is an irregular triangular space running parallel with the vertebral column.

Contents 1 Boundaries 2 Content 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Boundaries

It is bounded:

• anteriorally by the pericardium (in front of)
• inferiorally by the thoracic surface of the diaphragm (below).
• superiorally by the transverse thoracic plane (above). This plane is marked by an imaginary line travelling through the manubriosternal joint to the dividing line between the fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae.
• posteriorally by the bodies of the vertebral column from the lower border of the fourth to the twelfth thoracic vertebra (behind).
• laterally: by the mediastinal pleura (on either side)

[edit] Content

• artery
  • thoracic part of the descending aorta
• veins
  • azygos vein
  • the hemiazygos vein and the accessory hemiazygos vein
• nerves
  • vagus nerve
  • splanchnic nerves (but not the sympathetic chain^[1])
• esophagus
• thoracic duct
• some lymph glands

[edit] See also

• mediastinum

[edit] References

1. ^ Norman/Georgetown thoraxlesson5 - "Posterior Mediastinum"

[edit] External links

• 2013659195 at GPnotebook
• Lab Manual - umich.edu

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

v • d • e General anatomy of torso Thorax/ Thoracic cavity Mediastinum (Superior, Anterior, Middle, Posterior) • Superior thoracic aperture • Inferior thoracic aperture • Triangle of auscultation • Intercostal space • Thoracic plane • Thoracic wall/Thoracic cage - fascia (Pectoral fascia, Clavipectoral fascia, Thoracolumbar fascia) • Chest • Midsternal line Thoracic diaphragm openings (Caval opening, Esophageal hiatus, Aortic hiatus, Foramina of Morgagni) • Central tendon • Crus of diaphragm • arcuate ligaments (Lateral, Medial, Median) Abdomen/ Abdominal cavity Retroperitoneum • Paracolic gutters • Hepatobiliary triangle anterior abdominal wall (Arcuate line, Linea alba, Tendinous intersection, Linea semilunaris, McBurney's point, Traube's space, Inguinal triangle) • Inguinal canal (Deep inguinal ring, Superficial inguinal ring, Intercrural fibers, Crura of superficial inguinal ring) • Lumbar triangle • regions (Epigastrium, Hypochondrium, Umbilical region, Latus, Hypogastrium, Inguinal region) • planes (Transpyloric plane, Intertubercular plane, Midclavicular line) fascia (Fascia of Camper, Fascia of Scarpa, Transversalis fascia, Renal fascia, Rectus sheath) Pelvis/ Pelvic cavity Pelvic floor • Retropubic space fascia (Pelvic fascia, Superior fascia of diaphragm of pelvis, Inferior fascia of diaphragm of pelvis, Fascia of the Obturator internus, Tendinous arch, Iliac fascia, Iliopectineal fascia) Perineum Anal triangle (Ischioanal fossa, Pudendal canal, Anococcygeal raphe) Urogenital triangle (Superficial perineal pouch, Deep perineal pouch) Perineal body fascia (Dartos/fascia of perineum/superficial perineal fascia/Fascia of Colles, Perineal membrane/"Inferior fascia of UGD", "Superior fascia of UGD")