Lab 4

Superior Mediastinum
1) Fig 3.16
3) The thymus (C 112, 113) is likely to be a fatty remnant that lies immediately
posterior to the manubrium. (Note: it may be difficult to recognize the thymus in the
cadaver)
5) Left brachiocephalic vein - Fig 3.27, C 135
6) Right brachiocephalic vein - Fig 3.27, C 135
7) C 126
8) Azygos vein C 158, 159. Arch of azygos vein passes superior to the root of the
right lung and drains into the posterior surface of the of the superior vena cava
(theres a clear diagram of this on pg. 189 of Grays anatomy)
10) Right phrenic nerve and left phrenic nerve C 134, 135 (Note that the right and
left phrenic nerves pass anterior to the roots of the right and left lungs, respectively)
Demonstrate that the phrenic nerves accompany the pericardiaphrenic vessels and that
they enter the superior surface of the diaphram (not so great diagrams demonstrating
this on pages 189-190 in Grays anatomy)
11) Arch of aorta Fig 3.27, C 158
12) Brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian
artery - C 155.2
13) Ligamentum arteriosum (fibrous cord that commects the concavity of the arch
of the aorta to the left pulmonary artery) Fig 3.28, C 135
14) Left vagus nerve and left recurrent laryngeal nerve Fig 3.29, C 158 (Note: the
left vagus nerve passes posterior to the root of the left lung toward the esophagus.
Good diagram in Grays Anatomy pg. 190). Review the relationship of the left
recurrent laryngeal nerve to the ligamentum arteriosum (according to Grays, it
should be lateral you kinda see it in C 135).
15) Right vagus nerve and right recurrent laryngeal nerve (loops around the right
subclavian artery) Fig 3.29, C 158
16) Trachea and tracheobronchial lymph nodes C 156.2
17) Left and right main bronchus (Note that the arch of azygos vein passes superior
to the right main bronchus and the arch of the aorta passes superior to the left main
bronchus - Fig 3.29)
19) Esophogus C 155.2 and C 156.2
20) Carina Fig 3.29
21) Right main bronchus larger, shorter, more vertical than left main bronchus

Posterior Mediastinum
1) Fig 3.16
2) Fig 3.19, C 135
3) Note that the esophagus lies immediately posterior to the left atrium and part of
the left ventricle

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Fig 3.30 (Oblique cardial sinus C 135)

C 158
Esophogeal plexus of nerves Fig 3.30, C 636
Right vagus nerve C 162
Left vagus nerve C 162
Anterior vagal trunk and posterior vagal trunk Fig 3.31 (The vagal trunks
found on the inferior part of the esophagus, just before it passes through the
diaphragm; passes with the esophagus
10) C 159
11) Fig 3.31, C 159
12) Hemizygos vein and accessory hemizygos vein C 159
13) Thoracic duct C 158 (retract esophagus to the left and look for thoracic duct
between the azygos vein and the thoracic aorta; thoracic duct is immediately to
the left of the azygos vein and posterior to the esophagus; it has appearance of a
small vein without the blood in it)
14) C 159 (Grays anatomy pg. 198)
15) C 159
16) Thoracic aorta C 158
17) Esophogeal arteries and bronchial arteries C 158
18) Posterior intercostal arteries C 159
19) Intercostal nerve C 159
20) Sympathetic trunk C 162
21) C 162
22) Rami communicantes C 162
23) Greater splanchnic nerve C 162 (Note that the greater splanchnic nerve receives
contributions from the 5th to 9th thoracic sympathetic ganglia and that it is not
completely formed until lower thoracic levels. Greater splanchnic nerve found on
sides of vertebral bodies T5 to T9, whereas the sympathetic trunk crosses the
heads of ribs 5 to 9)