Bassett Collection of Stereoscopic Images of Human Anatomy

Collection Home

Dissection of thorax from a posterior approach

Ligamentous attachment of mediastinal structures to vertebral column

Image #132-3

KEYWORDS: Bones joints cartilage, Central nervous system, Fascia and connective tissue, Vasculature, Vertebral column.

Larger View

Creative Commons

These images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Higher resolution images are available for a fee. Contact Drew Bourn, PhD, MLIS.

Dissection of thorax from a posterior approach

Ligamentous attachment of mediastinal structures to vertebral column

The upper part of the specimen shown in 131-7 is presented in a close-up view with the anterior longitudinal ligament (14) retracted to the right to expose a heavy, ligamentous band which extends down to the aorta from the level of the third and fourth thoracic vertebral bodies. The vertebral attachments of this band blend with the anterior longitudinal ligament near the midline. Inferiorly the ligament blends with the adventitia of the posterior part of the aortic arch and the upper thoracic aorta. It can also be traced forward to where it blends with fascia of the esophagus and trachea, although this arrangement is not visible in this view. This suspensory structure is shown elsewhere in the dissection of another specimen (128-1).

1 .	Thoracic duct
2 .	Left subclavian artery
3 .	Fascia of superior mediastinal space
4 .	Left superior intercostal vein
5 .	Left sympathetic trunk
6 .	Aortic arch
7 .	Ligamentous band (see description above)
8 .	Costal pleura
9 .	Intercostal nerve V
10 .	Thoracic aorta
11 .	Costal facet vertebra Th. II
12 .	Anulus fibrosus
13 .	Nucleus pulposus (12-13 comprise the intervertebral disc)
14 .	Anterior longitudinal ligament
15 .	Intercostal nerve III
16 .	Veins surrounding nerve roots in intervertebral foramen (bones removed)
17 .	Left pointer: Right sympathetic trunk Right pointer: Ramus communicans
18 .	Anulus fibrosus (remnant)
19 .	Posterior intercostal vein V
20 .	Posterior intercostal artery V
21 .	Ligamentum capitis costae radiatum (preserved with periosteum of rib)