Mediassuperiores

Mediassuperiores is a term occasionally found in Latin-language anatomical writings to denote the structures located in the upper portion of the mediastinum, the central compartment of the thoracic cavity. In contemporary English-language anatomy, the standard and widely used term is the superior mediastinum; mediassuperiores is not common in modern nomenclature and is primarily encountered in historical or multilingual texts. The word is formed from mediastinum (the middle space in the thorax) and superiores (the plural form of upper), indicating the upper region of the mediastinal space.

The contents traditionally associated with the mediassuperiores include major vascular, airway, and neural structures that reside in the proximal thorax. These commonly cited elements are the arch of the aorta and its branches (such as the brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid, and left subclavian arteries), the superior vena cava with its tributaries, the trachea, the esophagus, the thymus or its residual tissue in adults, the thoracic duct, and mediastinal lymph nodes. Also present are the vagus nerves, the phrenic nerves, and components of the thoracic sympathetic chain, including the left recurrent laryngeal nerve in certain relationships with the aortic arch.

Clinically, pathology in this region can include thymic tumors, lymphadenopathy, cysts, aortic aneurysm, and compression of adjacent structures such as the trachea or esophagus. Imaging modalities like chest radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging aid in evaluation. In modern usage, the preferred terminology is the superior mediastinum, with mediassuperiores regarded as a historical or less common variation.