Content of inferior mediastinum

Looks like

The structures in the lower central chest: the heart in its sac, the descending aorta, gullet, and nerves.

What it does

Houses and cushions the heart and the tubes passing down to the belly.

Keeping it well

Fluid in the heart sac can squeeze the heart (tamponade): breathlessness with low blood pressure is an emergency.

Related conditions

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Kawasaki disease
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Pre-eclampsia
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)