Mediastinum

The mediastinum is a very important space inside our bodies. It is found in the middle of the chest area, called the thoracic cavity. This area is surrounded by a special kind of tissue and holds many important parts we need to live.

Inside the mediastinum are some of the body’s main organs and structures. This includes the heart and its blood vessels, the tube we use to swallow food called the esophagus, and the windpipe known as the trachea. It also contains important nerves like the vagus, phrenic, and cardiac nerves, as well as the thoracic duct, the thymus, and lymph nodes in the central chest.

The word mediastinum comes from Medieval Latin, meaning “midway.” It plays a big role in how our body works because it keeps all these important parts close together and functioning well.

Anatomy

The mediastinum is a central area inside the chest, surrounded by the chest wall, lungs, and spine. It holds many important parts of the body, such as the heart, its blood vessels, the windpipe, food pipe, and some nerves.

The mediastinum has two main parts: an upper part and a lower part. The upper part starts at the top of the chest and ends at a special imaginary line. The lower part is split into three smaller areas based on where the heart’s covering sits.

Clinical significance

The mediastinum can be affected by different growths, such as thyroid lumps, lymphoma, and other special tumors.

Inflammation of the mediastinum, known as mediastinitis, is a serious infection that can happen when organs in the area burst open. Air found in the mediastinum, called pneumomediastinum, may lead to other issues if not treated, but sometimes these issues can actually cause the air to appear there instead.

When the mediastinum appears wider than normal on special pictures taken of the chest, it can signal several health problems, including problems with the main blood vessel of the body or injuries to the area.