Does anyone know what a "wide mediastium" is?

Answer 1

Mediastinum is the term given to the central part of the chest . It usually includes parts of the heart, some blood vessels, part of the lungs and some others like the thymus.

It is visible on an X ray of the chest. When this part appears wider than usual on the X ray, it is called a "wide mediastinum".
This has a variety of causes involving all of the organs mentioned above.

Answer 2

The mediastinum lies between the right and left pleuræ in and near the median sagittal plane of the chest. It extends from the sternum in front to the vertebral column behind, and contains all the thoracic viscera except the lungs. It may be divided for purposes of description into two parts:

an upper portion, above the upper level of the pericardium, which is named the superior mediastinum;
and a lower portion, below the upper level of the pericardium. This lower portion is again subdivided into three parts, viz.:
that in front of the pericardium, the anterior mediastinum;
that containing the pericardium and its contents, the middle mediastinum;
and that behind the pericardium, the posterior mediastinum.
It is surrounded by the chest wall anteriorly, the lungs laterally and the spine posteriorly. It is continuous with the loose connective tissue of the neck, and extends inferiorly onto the diaphragm.


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Answer 3

The mediastinum is the bone between your ribs which goes from your neck to the top of your abdomen. I suppose a wide one is just what is says wider than usual.

Answer 4

The region in mammals between the pleural sacs, containing the heart and all of the thoracic viscera except the lungs.


[New Latin mediastnum, from neuter of Medieval Latin mediastnus, medial, from Latin, inferior servant, drudge (anatomical sense probably influenced by Latin intestnum, intestine), from medius, middle. See medhyo- in Indo-European Roots.]medi·as·tinal (-nl) adj.

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Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Answer 5

The mediastinum is the area in the center of your chest containing the aorta and esophagus etc. On x-ray it lies behind the sternum, but widening due to an aortic aneurysm can be seen.

Answer 6

Mediastenum is everything between two lungs...wide mediastenum usually is something serious...lymphoma, aneurism, esophageal mass, heart failure etc...
the bone between the ribs -the breast bone is called sternum...

Answer 7

isn't the mediastium is in your chest bone

Answer 8

check this out:www.indyrad.iupui.edu/public/clerkship/0010/widemediastinum.html