Mediastinum

The mediastinum is an important space inside our bodies. It is in the middle of the chest area, called the thoracic cavity. This area is surrounded by special tissue and holds many parts we need to live.

Inside the mediastinum are some of the body’s main organs and structures. This includes the heart and its blood vessels, the tube we use to swallow food called the esophagus, and the windpipe known as the trachea. It also contains important nerves like the vagus, phrenic, and cardiac nerves, as well as the thoracic duct, the thymus, and lymph nodes in the central chest.

The word mediastinum comes from Medieval Latin, meaning “midway.” It helps our body work by keeping all these important parts close together and working well.

Anatomy

The mediastinum is a central area inside the chest. It is surrounded by the chest wall, lungs, and spine. It holds many important parts of the body, such as the heart, its blood vessels, the windpipe, food pipe, and some nerves.

The mediastinum has two main parts: an upper part and a lower part. The upper part starts at the top of the chest and ends at a special imaginary line. The lower part is split into three smaller areas based on where the heart’s covering sits.

Clinical significance

The mediastinum can develop growths such as thyroid lumps, lymphoma, and other tumors.

Inflammation of the mediastinum, known as mediastinitis, is a serious infection that can occur when nearby organs burst open. Air in the mediastinum, called pneumomediastinum, may cause problems if not treated.

When the mediastinum looks wider than normal on chest images, it can indicate several health issues, including problems with the main blood vessel or injuries to the area.