mediastinum

[ mee-dee-a-stahy-nuhm ]

noun

, Anatomy.

, plural me·di·as·ti·na [mee-dee-a-, stahy, -n, uh].

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.

mediastinum

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˌmediasˈtinal, adjective

Other Words From

• medi·as·tinal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mediastinum¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mediastinum¹

C16: from medical Latin, neuter of Medieval Latin mediastīnus median, from Latin: low grade of servant, from medius mean

Example Sentences

He also has a nodule in the mediastinum, which is an area with glands in the chest.

From Reuters

Examination in the afternoon of March 21.—On removing the sternum and anterior portion of the ribs, the anterior mediastinum was found filled with a frothy adipo-mucous collection of a yellowish colour.

From Project Gutenberg

The thoracic portion is about 7 inches long, and traverses the posterior mediastinum lying slightly to the left of the middle line.

From Project Gutenberg

He was the first to study and describe the mediastinum, correcting the error of the ancients, who believed that this duplicature of the pleura contained a portion of the lungs.

From Project Gutenberg

Several lymphatic glands in the anterior part of the mediastinum contained black fluid.

From Project Gutenberg