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

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

Example Sentences

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

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The right and left pleurae, which enclose the right and left lungs, respectively, are separated by 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

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

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

A few irregularly situated dark glandular bodies were observed on the surface of the costal pleura at each side of the sternum, and on the mediastinum.

From An Investigation into the Nature of Black Phthisis or Ulceration Induced by Carbonaceous Accumulation in the Lungs of Coal Miners by Makellar, Archibald