X CLOSE

Dissection of mediastinum and paravertebral structures

Contents of thoracic inlet viewed from below

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.
For additional information regarding use and permissions, please contact the Medical History Center.

Image #126-7
Diagram Image
Legend Image
Dissection of mediastinum and paravertebral structures
Contents of thoracic inlet viewed from below
The thoracic cavity has been opened from behind. The thoracic viscera have been excised with the exception of the structures which pass through the superior thoracic aperture (thoracic inlet). Lymphatic structures and connective tissue have been removed from the area.
  1. Transverse process vertebrae Th. II
  2. Rib II
  3. Stellate ganglion
  4. Thoracic nerve I
  5. Costocervical trunk
  6. Left vertebral artery
  7. Ansa subclavia
  8. Left subclavian artery
  9. Rib I
  10. Intercostal nerve I
  11. Upper pointer: Esophagus Lower pointer: Trachea
  12. Upper pointer: Left phrenic nerve Lower pointer: Left subclavian vein
  13. Left common carotid artery
  14. Aortic arch
  15. Costal cartilage I
  16. Upper pointer: Recurrent laryngeal nerve Lower pointer: Ligamentum arteriosum
  17. Costal pleura
  18. Ascending aorta
  19. Sternothyroid muscle (origin from sternum)
  20. Internal thoracic artery and vein
  21. Spinal ganglion nerve Th. II
  22. Posterior longitudinal ligament (crossing vertebra Th. II)
  23. Intervertebral disc Th. II-III
  24. Costotransverse ligament
  25. Inferior costal facet
  26. Thoracic nerve I
  27. Cervical nerve VIII
  28. Left pointer: Costocervical trunk Right pointer: Inferior trunk brachial plexus
  29. Right vertebral artery and vein
  30. Right subclavian artery
  31. Anterior scalene muscle
  32. Right phrenic nerve
  33. Right subclavian vein
  34. Upper pointer: Right vagus nerve Lower pointer: Right brachiocephalic vein
  35. Left pointer: Brachiocephalic trunk Right pointer: Inferior thyroid vein
  36. Upper pointer: Left brachiocephalic vein Lower pointer: Azygos vein
  37. Superior vena cava
  38. Manubrium of sternum (covered by sternal membrane)