Boundaries and Divisions of the Mediastinum in Thoracic Anatomy
The mediastinum is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity situated between the pleural cavities, bounded anteriorly by the sternum, posteriorly by the thoracic vertebrae, superiorly by the thoracic inlet, and inferiorly by the diaphragm. It is subdivided first into superior and inferior mediastinum by a plane through the sternal angle, and the inferior mediastinum is further subdivided into anterior, middle, and posterior compartments defined relative to the pericardium. This is a topic in thoracic anatomy, providing the spatial framework for organizing the location of thoracic viscera and structures.
Boundaries and Divisions of the Mediastinum in Thoracic Anatomy
The mediastinum is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity situated between the pleural cavities, bounded anteriorly by the sternum, posteriorly by the thoracic vertebrae, superiorly by the th…