2. Mediastinum
Mediastinum is median septum of the thorax between the two lungs.
Divisons :
Mediastinum is divided into
a) Superior Mediastinum
b) Inferior mediastinum
Inferior mediastinum is further divided into the anterior, middle and
posterior mediastinum
3. * ANATOMISTS DIVIDE MEDIASTINUM INTO 4 PARTS----- SUPERIOR,AND INFERIOR
COMPARTMENTS BY AN IMAGINARY LINE TRAVERSING THE MANUBRIOSTERNAL
JOINT AND LOWER SURFACE OF 4TH DORSAL VERTEBRA.
THE INFERIOR COMPARTMENT IS FURTHER SUBDIVIDED INTO 3 PARTS
THE MIDDLE MEDIASTINUM WHICH CONTAINS PERICARDIUM AND ITS
CONTENTS,AS WELL AS MAJOR VESSELS AND AIRWAYS
ANTERIOR MEDIASTINUM ANTERIOR TO MIDDLE MEDIASTINUM AND POSTERIOR
TO STERNUM
4.
5. HEITZMAN
*HEITZMAN DIVIDES MEDIASTINUM INTO
THE THORACIC INLET
ANTERIOR MEDIASTINUM
THE SUPRA AORTIC AREA
THE INFRA AORTIC AREA
THE SUPRA AZYGOS AREA
THE INFRA AZYGOS AREA
IN ANY METHOD THESE DIVISIONS ARE THEORITICAL RATHER THAN
PHYSICAL.THEREFORE DISEASES CAN SPREAD FROM ONE TO ANOTHER
COMPARTMENT.
THE FELSON METHOD IS BASED UPON FINDINGS AT LATERAL CHEST RADIOGRAPHY.A LINE EXTENDING FROM DIAPHRAGM TO THORACIC INLET ALONG THE BACK OF HEART AND ANTERIOR TO TRACHEA SEPARATES ANTERIOR AND MIDDLE MEDIASTINAL COMPARTMENTS WHERE AS A LINE THAT CONNECTS POINTS 1 CM BEHIND THE ANTERIOR MARGINS OF VERTEBRAL BODIES SEPARATES MIDDLE AND POSTERIOR COMPARTNENTS