mediastinum Hear it!

mediastinum Definition

me·di·as·ti·num (mē′dē as tī′nəm)

noun pl. -·na-nə

  1. a membranous partition between two cavities of the body, esp. that separating the lungs or the two pleural sacs
  2. the space between the pleural sacs, containing the heart and other chest viscera except the lungs

Etymology: ModL < ML mediastinus, in the middle (form infl. by L mediastinus, servant, medical assistant) < L medius, middle: see mid

mediastinum Related Forms

me′·di·as·ti′·nal adjective

mediastinum Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • superior: Loss of weight Shadow present in the superior mediastinum, extending to both sides of the outline of the vertebral column.
  • anterior: Ectopic parathyroid tissue can occur, from cricoid to anterior mediastinum.

Modifies a noun

testis: The septa converge toward the midline of the posterior border, meeting along a thickening of the tunica albuginea called the mediastinum testis.

Browse dictionary entries near mediastinum

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  9. ‹ media server
  10. ‹ media manager
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