The mediastinum is an important region of the body located between the lungs.
The mediastinum is also home to lymph nodes.
Understanding the different parts of the mediastinum is very helpful in determining the causes of abnormalities in this region.
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It is also home to manylymph nodesand nerves.
On the lateral sides (edges), the mediastinum is bound by the membranes that line the lungs.
Structure
The mediastinum can be thought of as having two regions, the top, and bottom.
The bottom (inferior) half is divided into three main regions.
Most masses in the mediastinum are small and do not have any symptoms.
The age of an individual and the location of a mediastinal mass are important in considering a diagnosis.
In children, mediastinal masses occur most often in the posterior mediastinum and are often benign (noncancerous).
One procedure that allows surgeons to visualize this area is called amediastinoscopy.
It is divided into four compartments: the superior, anterior, middle, and posterior.
Each one houses different structures such as the heart and arteries.
The heart is located within the middle mediastinum, alongside many blood vessels and lymph nodes.
The middle mediastinum is its largest compartment.
The posterior mediastinum houses the esophagus, the descending thoracic aorta, veins, and nerves.
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