Gross Anatomy – Mediastinum Exam With complete solution–
Expert Verified | Latest Questions 2025
What are the borders of the mediastinum? - Superior thoracic aperture superiorly
Thoracic diaphragm inferiorly
What are the divisions of the mediastinum? - Superior mediastinum (above transverse
plane b/w sternal angle and T4-5 IVD)
Inferior mediastinum (below that ^ and further divided into three regions)
What are the regions of the inferior mediastinum? - anterior, middle, posterior
What are the contents of the superior mediastinum? - Mediastinal lymph nodes
Thymus
Bracheocephalic vv.
SVC
Arch of aorta
Vagus, phrenic, and recurrent laryngeal nn.
Trachea, esophagus, thoracic duct
What is the location of the thymus? - Immediately posterior to manubrium
Anterosuperior to pericardium
What is the function of the thymus? - Primary lymphoid organ (site of T-lymphocyte
development)
Undergoes involution after puberty
What are the brachiocephalic vv. formed by and where do they terminate? - Formed:
Union of internal jugular and subclavian vv. on each side
Terminate: into SVC
Which brachiocephalic v. is longer? - Left brachiocephalic v.
What do the brachiocephalic vv. drain? - head, neck , and upper extremities
What vv. form the SVC? - R and L brachiocephalic vv.
Azygos v. also drains into the SVC
What part of the mediastinum is the terminal part of the SVC in? - Middle mediastinum
Where does the aortic arch begin and end? - Sternal angle
What are the branches of the aortic arch? - Brachiocephalic trunk (R common carotid
and R subclavian aa.)
Left common carotid a.
, Left subclavian a.
What does the arch of aorta turn into after the sternal angle? - Descending thoracic
aorta
What is the origin and termination of the trachea? - Begins at the inferior border of the
cricoid cartilage
Ends at sternal angle with the carina
What is the position of the trachea relative to the esophagus? - Anterior to it
What are the cartilage rings? - 16-20 C-shaped rings incomplete posteriorly
Trachealis m. (smooth muscle) spans gap and abuts esophagus
What is the esophagus generally? - Fibromuscular tube from pharynx to stomach
What is the location of the esophagus? - Enters superior mediastinum between trachea
and vertebrae
Flattened anteroposteriorly
Enters posterior mediastinum inferior to aortic arch
What relationships are associated with the esophagus? - Thoracic duct lies to the left
side in the superior mediastinum and posterior in the posterior mediastinum
How does the esophagus exit the thorax? - Via the esophageal hiatus (T10)
What is the location of the R vagus n.? - Anterior to R subclavian a.
Passes thru superior mediastinum to the right of the trachea
What does the R recurrent laryngeal n. loop around? - R subclavian a.
What is the location of the L vagus n.? - Between L common carotid a. and L subclavian
a.
Passes anterolaterally over aortic arch
What does the left recurrent laryngeal n. loop around? - Aortic arch behind ligamentum
arteriosum
Where do the vagus nn. pass relative to the root of the lung? - Posteriorly
What part of the mediastinum are the vagus nn. after they pass the root of the lungs? -
Inferior mediastinum
What does the L vagus n. contribute to? - Anterior esophageal plexus
What does the R vagus n. contribute to? - Posterior esophageal plexus
Expert Verified | Latest Questions 2025
What are the borders of the mediastinum? - Superior thoracic aperture superiorly
Thoracic diaphragm inferiorly
What are the divisions of the mediastinum? - Superior mediastinum (above transverse
plane b/w sternal angle and T4-5 IVD)
Inferior mediastinum (below that ^ and further divided into three regions)
What are the regions of the inferior mediastinum? - anterior, middle, posterior
What are the contents of the superior mediastinum? - Mediastinal lymph nodes
Thymus
Bracheocephalic vv.
SVC
Arch of aorta
Vagus, phrenic, and recurrent laryngeal nn.
Trachea, esophagus, thoracic duct
What is the location of the thymus? - Immediately posterior to manubrium
Anterosuperior to pericardium
What is the function of the thymus? - Primary lymphoid organ (site of T-lymphocyte
development)
Undergoes involution after puberty
What are the brachiocephalic vv. formed by and where do they terminate? - Formed:
Union of internal jugular and subclavian vv. on each side
Terminate: into SVC
Which brachiocephalic v. is longer? - Left brachiocephalic v.
What do the brachiocephalic vv. drain? - head, neck , and upper extremities
What vv. form the SVC? - R and L brachiocephalic vv.
Azygos v. also drains into the SVC
What part of the mediastinum is the terminal part of the SVC in? - Middle mediastinum
Where does the aortic arch begin and end? - Sternal angle
What are the branches of the aortic arch? - Brachiocephalic trunk (R common carotid
and R subclavian aa.)
Left common carotid a.
, Left subclavian a.
What does the arch of aorta turn into after the sternal angle? - Descending thoracic
aorta
What is the origin and termination of the trachea? - Begins at the inferior border of the
cricoid cartilage
Ends at sternal angle with the carina
What is the position of the trachea relative to the esophagus? - Anterior to it
What are the cartilage rings? - 16-20 C-shaped rings incomplete posteriorly
Trachealis m. (smooth muscle) spans gap and abuts esophagus
What is the esophagus generally? - Fibromuscular tube from pharynx to stomach
What is the location of the esophagus? - Enters superior mediastinum between trachea
and vertebrae
Flattened anteroposteriorly
Enters posterior mediastinum inferior to aortic arch
What relationships are associated with the esophagus? - Thoracic duct lies to the left
side in the superior mediastinum and posterior in the posterior mediastinum
How does the esophagus exit the thorax? - Via the esophageal hiatus (T10)
What is the location of the R vagus n.? - Anterior to R subclavian a.
Passes thru superior mediastinum to the right of the trachea
What does the R recurrent laryngeal n. loop around? - R subclavian a.
What is the location of the L vagus n.? - Between L common carotid a. and L subclavian
a.
Passes anterolaterally over aortic arch
What does the left recurrent laryngeal n. loop around? - Aortic arch behind ligamentum
arteriosum
Where do the vagus nn. pass relative to the root of the lung? - Posteriorly
What part of the mediastinum are the vagus nn. after they pass the root of the lungs? -
Inferior mediastinum
What does the L vagus n. contribute to? - Anterior esophageal plexus
What does the R vagus n. contribute to? - Posterior esophageal plexus
