Today's Hours: 12:00pm - 6:00pm

Bassett Collection of Stereoscopic Images of Human Anatomy

Dissection of mediastinum and paravertebral structures

Superior mediastinum.

Image #127-3

KEYWORDS: Left lung, Lung, Lymphatics, Mediastinum, Pericardial sac, Peripheral nervous system, Pleura, Vasculature.

Creative Commons

Stanford holds the copyright to the David L. Bassett anatomical images and has assigned Creative Commons license Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International to all of the images.

Creative Commons License logo

For additional information regarding use and permissions, please contact Dr. Drew Bourn at dbourn@stanford.edu.

Dissection of mediastinum and paravertebral structures
Superior mediastinum.
The thymus has been removed. Much of the lymphatic tissue in the anterior part of the superior mediastinum has been cut away. The nodes which remain retain their connections with posterior mediastinal nodes. Several lymphatic vessels from the pericardium have been preserved. The pericardial and pleural cavities have been opened. The lung is partially collapsed and has been dissected.
  1. Esophagus
  2. Brachiocephalic trunk
  3. Trachea
  4. Left vertebral artery (unusual origin from aortic arch)
  5. Left common carotid artery (cut off)
  6. Anterior mediastinal lymph node (elevated)
  7. Cardiac plexus
  8. Aortic arch
  9. Lymphatic vessels from pericardium
  10. Pericardium
  11. Pulmonary trunk
  12. Upper pointer: Thoracic duct (cut off) Lower pointer: Costocervical trunk
  13. Left subclavian artery
  14. Anterior scalene muscle
  15. Cupula pleurae
  16. Rib I (cut across)
  17. Internal thoracic artery (note plexus of nerves along artery)
  18. Left vagus nerve
  19. Posterior mediastinal lymph node
  20. Upper lobe left lung
  21. Apical branch left pulmonary artery
  22. Tracheobronchial lymph node
  23. Posterior apical segmental bronchus
  24. Left superior pulmonary vein