- Posterior mediastinum
Infobox Anatomy
Name = Posterior mediastinum
Latin = mediastinum posterius
GraySubject = 239
GrayPage = 1093
Caption = Mediastinum
Caption2 = A transverse section of the thorax, showing the contents of the middle and the posterior mediastinum.
System =
MeshName =
MeshNumber =
DorlandsPre = m_06
DorlandsSuf = 12518985
The posterior mediastinum is an irregular triangular space running parallel with thevertebral column .Boundaries
It is bounded:
* anteriorally by thepericardium (in front of)
*inferiorally by the thoracic surface of the diaphragm (below).
* superiorally by the transversethoracic 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 thevertebral column from the lower border of the fourth to the twelfththoracic vertebra (behind).
*laterally: by themediastinal pleura (on either side)Content
* artery
** thoracic part of thedescending aorta
* veins
**azygos vein
** thehemiazygos vein and theaccessory hemiazygos vein
* nerves
**vagus nerve
**splanchnic nerves (but not thesympathetic chain [NormanAnatomy|thoraxlesson5 - "Posterior Mediastinum"] )
*esophagus
*thoracic duct
* somelymph glands ee also
*
mediastinum References
External links
*
* [http://anatomy.med.umich.edu/thorax/post_med.html Lab Manual - umich.edu]
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