noun
- the central compartment of the chest cavity between the lungs, containing the heart, major blood vessels, esophagus, trachea, and other structures
Usage: medical
Examples
- The surgeon carefully examined the mediastinum during the thoracic operation.
- A CT scan revealed a mass in the mediastinum that required further investigation.
- The mediastinum contains vital structures including the heart and great vessels.
- Inflammation of the mediastinum, called mediastinitis, is a serious condition.
- The radiologist identified enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum.
- During anatomy class, students learned about the boundaries of the mediastinum.