Posterior Mediastinum: Vagus nerve, Azygous vein, and Thoracic duct

[lee-usmle]

Image from wikimedia commons public domain

Looking at the illustration above help us identify the important relations of the structures in the posterior mediastinum.

Here's some important points:

• The sympathetic trunks are paravertebral and they are not in the posterior mediastinum.
• The Left vagus gives anterior esophageal plexus while the right vagus give posterior esophageal plexus.
• The thoracic duct ascends just to the left and behind the esophagus and will eventually drain into the junction of the left subclavien vein and left internal jugular vein.
• The azygous vein is on the right side and will eventually pour into the superior vena cava.