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Dissection of pericardium and heart in situ

Thymus and pericardium; superior sternopericardial ligament

Image #116-5

KEYWORDS: Pericardial sac, Thymus.

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Dissection of pericardium and heart in situ

Thymus and pericardium; superior sternopericardial ligament

The internal thoracic arteries have been cut off (6, 21). The pleura has been cut away from the pericardium and the fascia which covered the thymus has been partially removed. A portion of this fascia (9) fuses firmly with the pericardium to form one of the sternopericardial ligaments. The sternal attachment of this ligament was in the area of origin of the sternothyroid muscles and was detached in the preparation of the dissection.

1 .	Middle scalene muscle
2 .	Anterior scalene muscle
3 .	Right recurrent laryngeal nerve
4 .	Pleura (cut to display apex of lung)
5 .	Right brachiocephalic vein
6 .	Upper pointer: Phrenic nerve Lower pointer: Internal thoracic artery (displaced posteriorly)
7 .	Pericardiacophrenic artery
8 .	Superior vena cava
9 .	Superior sternopericardial ligament
10 .	Right lung
11 .	Mediastinal pleura (cut and reflected from pericardium)
12 .	Body of sternum (cut across)
13 .	Diaphragm
14 .	Thyroid gland
15 .	Common carotid arteries
16 .	Vagus nerve left
17 .	Thoracic duct
18 .	Right subclavian artery
19 .	Left brachiocephalic vein
20 .	Rib I
21 .	Internal thoracic artery
22 .	Thymus (right lobe)
23 .	Thymus (left lobe)
24 .	Pericardium
25 .	Left lung
26 .	Mediastinal pleura (cut and reflected)
27 .	Fibrous bands attaching pericardium to costal cartilages