The mediastinum is the area of the thoracic cavity between the sternum and the spine. It is bounded laterally by the pleural cavities, superiorly by the thoracic inlet, and inferiorly by the diaphragm. It contains a variety of important structures and tissues including the the heart and its large vessels, trachea, oesophagus, thymus, lymph nodes and nerves.
For the purposes of description, it may be divided into anterior, superior, middle, and posterior compartments. Alternatively, structures may be considered in relation to the roots of the lungs.
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