Dissection of mediastinum and paravertebral structures

Upper thoracic part of right sympathetic trunk; intercostal vessels; azygos vein; right vagus nerve; pulmonary and esophageal plexuses

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Image #128-4

Dissection of mediastinum and paravertebral structures

Upper thoracic part of right sympathetic trunk; intercostal vessels; azygos vein; right vagus nerve; pulmonary and esophageal plexuses

The tracheobronchial tree has been pulled forward and to the left and the esophagus has been rotated slightly to the left.

1. Posterior mediastinal lymph node
2. Rib III
3. Sympathetic trunk
4. Ramus communicans (aberrant rami similar to this, which cross a rib to the next lower intercostal nerve, are present in several places on both sides of this specimen)
5. Thoracic ganglion
6. Azygos vein (cut off)
7. Ramus communicans
8. Lymph vessel
9. Intercostal artery and vein VI
10. Greater splanchnic nerve
11. Vagus nerve right (several esophageal and tracheal branches visible along course of nerve)
12. Brachiocephalic trunk
13. Thoracic cardiac nerve (these nerves also send branches into pulmonary plexus)
14. Aortic arch
15. Trachea
16. Pulmonary plexus
17. Inferior tracheobronchial lymph node
18. Esophagus
19. Thoracic aorta