Question

Identify and discuss anatomical relationships of structures and organs located in the middle division of the mediastinum

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Answer 1

The mediastinum is the central compartment of the chest, which consists of two division, the inferior and superior region, the inferior region can be divided further, into  anterior, middle, and posterior. The middle region contains the pericardium, the heart, main bronchi and other structures at the root of the lungs. The middle mediastinum is the largest subdivision of the inferior mediastinum

The organ present in the middle mediastinium include the heart and the pericardium, which is protective sheet that covers the heart. The human heart is approximantly the size of a closed fist and is the body’s circulatory pump and consists of four chambers, right ventricles, left ventricels, right atrium and the left atrium.

The middle madiastinium also contains the great vessels that run to and from heart.

Asscending aorta which is the  first part of the aorta, which arises from the aortic orifice. The ascending aorta gives rise to two branches; the left and right coronary arteries.

Pulmonary trunk,  is the major vessel of the heart that originates from the right ventricle. It branches into the right and left pulmonary arteries, which lead to the lungs.

Superior vena cava, this vessel is formed by brachiocephalic veins, it is involved in returning of deoxygenated blood from the upper half of the body

The middle mediastinium also contains two important nerves,

Phrenic nerve, these nerves arise in the neck, and descend through the middle mediastinum to reach the diaphragm

Cardiac plexus, a network of nerves located at the base of the heart, which contains the sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers

In addition the middle mediastinium also contains the tracheobronchial lymph nodes.