Subdivision of the Mediastinum According to Some Clinical Radiologists - SUDDIVISIONE RADIOLOGICA DEL MEDIASTINO

Clinical radiologists have described the subdivisions of the mediastinum in the following way:  the anterior mediastinum by the clinician is the anterior and middle mediastina combined and it extends into the superior mediastinum anterior to the plane of the anterior surface of the trachea.  the middle mediastinum includes the posterior mediastinum and the part of the superior mediastinum posterior to a plane anterior to the trachea  the posterior mediastinum includes the bodies of the vertebrae which includes the paravertebral space and thus includes the sympathetic chains on each side. This is the region that neurogenic tumors might occur.

Subdivision of mediastinum as seen on sagittal section  superior mediastinum   (1)  anterior mediastinum    (2)  medial mediastinum       (3)  posterior mediastinum  (4) Boundaries of the mediastinum superior mediastinum (1) upper boundary -- plane of the thoracic inlet (jugular notch, first rib, first thoracic vertebra) lower boundary -- plane of sternal angle (from sternal angle to lower border of fourth thoracic vertebra lateral boundaries -- mediastinal pleurae anterior boundary -- manubrium of sternum posterior boundary -- bodies of thoracic vertebrae 1 thru 4 inferior mediastinum (2)

anterior

middle

anterior -- body and xiphoid of sternum	anterior -- pericardium
posterior -- pericardium	posterior -- pericardium
lateral -- mediastinal pleura	lateral -- mediastinal pleura
superior -- plane of sternal angle	superior -- plane of sternal angle
inferior -- diaphragm	inferior -- diaphragm

posterior anterior -- pericardium posterior -- bodies of thoracic vertebrae 5 - 12 lateral -- mediastinal pleura superior -- plane of sternal angle inferior -- diaphragm