Superior mediastinum

Looks like

The upper part of the central chest space, between the lungs, from the neck down to the level of the breastbone angle.

What it does

Holds the aortic arch and its branches, big veins, windpipe, gullet, thymus and major nerves.

Keeping it well

Swollen lymph nodes or tumours here can press on veins; a swollen face and neck with visible chest veins needs urgent care.

Its parts

• Left superior intercostal vein

Related conditions

• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Clotting disorders (thrombophilia & APS)
• Deep vein thrombosis
• 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)
• Varicose veins
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)