Library / English Dictionary

MEDIASTINUM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: mediastina   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The part of the thoracic cavity between the lungs that contains the heart and aorta and esophagus and trachea and thymus

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("mediastinum" is a kind of...):

bodily cavity; cavity; cavum ((anatomy) a natural hollow or sinus within the body)

Holonyms ("mediastinum" is a part of...):

chest cavity; thoracic cavity (the cavity in the vertebrate body enclosed by the ribs between the diaphragm and the neck and containing the lungs and heart)

Credits

 Context examples: 

It can arise from many anatomic sites including the posterior pituitary gland, skin, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, heart, mediastinum, and breast.

(Granular Cell Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

Ganglioneuroma typically arises from the sympathetic trunk in the mediastinum.

(Ganglioneuroma, NCI Thesaurus)

Surgical opening of the anterior mediastinum.

(Anterior mediastinotomy, NCI Thesaurus)

A benign hemangiopericytoma arising from the mediastinum.

(Benign Mediastinal Hemangiopericytoma, NCI Thesaurus)

It can arise from the testis, ovary, and extragonadal sites (central nervous system and mediastinum).

(Embryonal Carcinoma, NCI Thesaurus)

The condition often results in infection of the mediastinum and mediastinitis.

(Esophageal Perforation, NCI Thesaurus)

A germ cell tumor arising in an anatomic site other than the testis or ovary (e.g., central nervous system, lung, mediastinum, and retroperitoneum).

(Extragonadal germ cell tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

Abnormal growth of the cells of the tissues contained within the mediastinum (e.g., thymus) without evidence of malignancy.

(Benign Mediastinal Neoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)

A lymph node located in the superior mediastinum that collects lymph from the thymus, the pericardium, and the right side of the heart.

(Anterior Mediastinal Lymph Node, NCI Thesaurus)

Example(s): celom, thoracic cavity, lesser sac of peritoneum, cavity of right atrium, lumen of blood vessel, mediastinum, anterior compartment of forearm, intervertebral foramen.

(Body Space, NCI Thesaurus/UWDA)