Mediastinum

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  • central portion of thorax, lies between the two lungs
  • superior
    • superior to heart
    • superior to plane of Louis (through manubriosternal joint - body of 4th thoracic vertebra)
    • contains
      • great vessels which lie behind manubrium sterni,
      • the vagus
      • left recurrent laryngeal,
      • phrenic nerves;
      • sympathetic trunks;
      • trachea
      • oesophagus and related vessels
      • thoracic duct
      • remnants of thymus
  • posterior
    • behind heart
    • contains
      • oesophagus,
      • thoracic duct,
      • superior and inferior hemiazygos veins,
      • descending aorta and branches,
      • vagus nerves
  • middle
    • contains
      • heart and pericardium,
      • roots of lungs,
      • part of phrenic nerves
  • anterior
    • in front of pericardium
    • contains
      • internal thoracic vessels,
      • lymph glands,
      • thymus
 

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