mediastinum

American  

[mee-dee-a-stahy-nuhm] / ˌmi di æˈstaɪ nəm /

noun

Anatomy.

• mediastina
  plural

1. a median septum or partition between two parts of an organ, or paired cavities of the body.

2. the partition separating the right and left thoracic cavities, formed of the two inner pleural walls, and, in humans, comprising all the viscera of the thorax except the lungs.

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mediastinum British  

/ ˌmiːdɪəˈstaɪnəm /

noun

1. a membrane between two parts of an organ or cavity such as the pleural tissue between the two lungs

2. the part of the thoracic cavity that lies between the lungs, containing the heart, trachea, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• mediastinal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• mediastina
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of mediastinum

1535–45; < New Latin; compare mediastīnus of middle class, apparently identical with Latin mediast ( r ) īnus a low-ranking slave, perhaps derivative of medius mid ¹, though sense and formation unclear

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mediastinum

The thoracic cavity contains the lungs and the heart, which is located in the mediastinum.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

In contrast, the parietal pleura is the outer layer that connects to the thoracic wall, the mediastinum, and the diaphragm.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

The lungs are enclosed by the pleurae, which are attached to the mediastinum.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

As you can see in Figure 23.13, the esophagus runs a mainly straight route through the mediastinum of the thorax.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

It may find its way downwards towards the mediastinum, inwards towards the pharynx—where it constitutes one form of retro-pharyngeal abscess—or upwards towards the base of the skull.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Alexander Miles

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