Main branches of descending aorta

(schematic drawing).

Posterior and Superior Mediastinum: Mediastinal Organs

Organs of posterior and superior mediastinum (left lateral aspect).

1 Subclavian artery

2 Subclavian vein

3 Clavicle (divided)

4 Left vagus nerve

5 First rib (divided)

6 Left superior intercostal vein

7 Left atrium with pericardium

8 Left phrenic nerve and pericardiacophrenic

artery and vein

9 Esophageal plexus (branches derived

from left vagus nerve)

10 Apex of heart with pericardium

11 Brachial plexus

12 Scapula (divided)

13 Posterior intercostal arteries

14 White ramus communicans of

sympathetic trunk

15 Sympathetic trunk

16 Aortic arch

17 Left vagus nerve and left recurrent

laryngeal nerve

18 Left pulmonary artery

19 Left primary bronchus

20 Thoracic aorta

21 Pulmonary vein

22 Esophagus (thoracic part)

23 Posterior intercostal artery and

vein and intercostal nerve

24 Diaphragm

25 Common carotid artery

26 Subclavian artery

27 Highest intercostal artery

28 Bifurcation of trachea

29 Celiac trunk

30 Renal artery

31 Superior mesenteric artery

32 Inferior mesenteric artery

33 Common iliac artery

282 Diaphragm

1 Superior vena cava

2 Right atrium

3 Right ventricle

4 Costal part of diaphragm

5 Costal margin

6 Position of costodiaphragmatic recess

7 Lateral arcuate ligament

8 Medial arcuate ligament

9 Right crus of lumbar part of diaphragm

10 Quadratus lumborum muscle

11 Ascending aorta

12 Pulmonary trunk

13 Left ventricle

14 Pericardium, diaphragm

15 Esophageal hiatus and abdominal

part of esophagus (cut)

16 Lumbar part of diaphragm

17 Aortic hiatus

18 Psoas major muscle

19 Lumbar vertebra

Diaphragm in situ (anterior aspect). Anterior walls of thoracic and abdominal cavities

have been removed. Natural position of the heart above the central tendon on the

diaphragm is shown.

Changes in the position of the diaphragm and thoracic cage

during respiration. Left: lateral aspect; right: anterior aspect.

During inspiration the diaphragm moves downwards and the lower

part of the thoracic cage expands forward and laterally, causing the

costodiaphragmatic recess (R) to enlarge (cf. dotted arrows).

Diaphragm 283

1 Azygos venous arch

2 Right pulmonary artery

3 Superior vena cava

4 Right pulmonary vein

5 Fossa ovalis

6 Hepatic veins

7 Inferior vena cava

8 Right crus of lumbar part of

diaphragm

9 Medial arcuate ligament

10 Psoas major muscle

11 Left brachiocephalic vein

12 Terminal crista

13 Right atrium

14 Right auricle

15 Central tendon of diaphragm

16 Esophagus

17 Celiac trunk and superior

mesenteric artery

18 Aorta

19 Costal part of diaphragm

20 Costal margin

21 Transversus abdominis muscle

1 Sternocostal triangle

2 Central tendon (from above)

3 Esophagus

4 Aorta

5 Lumbar part of diaphragm

6 Sternum

7 Sternal part of diaphragm

8 Costal part of diaphragm

9 Entrance of hepatic veins

10 Inferior vena cava

11 Body of 9th thoracic vertebra

12 Spinal cord

Diaphragm. Paramedian section to the right of the median plane through thoracic and

upper abdominal cavities. The plane passes through the superior and inferior vena cava

just to the right of the vertebral bodies. Most of the heart remains in situ to the left of

this plane (viewed from the right side).

Diaphragm (superior aspect). The pleura and pericardium have been removed.

284 Coronal Sections through the Thorax

1 Clavicle

2 Left brachiocephalic vein

3 Upper lobe of right lung

4 Aortic arch

5 Superior vena cava

6 Right atrium (entrance

of inferior vena cava)

7 Coronary sinus

8 Liver

9 Second rib

10 Upper lobe of left lung

11 Pulmonary trunk

12 Ascending aorta and left coronary

artery

13 Aortic valve

14 Pericardium

15 Myocardium of left ventricle

16 Lower lobe of left lung

17 Diaphragm

18 Colic flexures

19 Stomach

20 Brachiocephalic trunk

Coronal section through the thorax at the level of ascending

aorta (MRI scan).

Coronal section through the thorax at the level of ascending aorta (anterior aspect).

Coronal Sections through the Thorax 285

Coronal section through the thorax at the level of superior and inferior vena cava (anterior aspect).

1 Trachea

2 Upper lobe of right lung

3 Superior vena cava

4 Right pulmonary veins

5 Inferior vena cava and right atrium

6 Liver

7 Left common carotid artery

8 Left subclavian vein

9 Upper lobe of left lung

10 Aortic arch

11 Left pulmonary artery

12 Left auricle

13 Left atrium with orifices

of pulmonary veins

14 Left ventricle (myocardium)

15 Pericardium

16 Diaphragm

17 Left colic flexure

18 Stomach

19 Left subclavian artery

Coronal section through the thorax at the level of superior

vena cava (MRI scan). Arrows = metastases of tumor.

286 Horizontal Sections through the Thorax