The Manubriosternal Plane
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The pericardium | Main Anatomy Index | Azygos
system of veins
Last updated 30 March 2006
The Manubriosternal Plane
Significant structures related to the plane passing through
the sternal angle and between T4 and T5 vertebrae
- Bifurcation of the trachea.
- Ligamentum arteriosus.
- The recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve, loops under the aortic arch
on the left side and under the subclavian artery on the right side.
- The azygos vein empties into the superior vena cava (arch of azygos vein).
- Just inferior to the plane, the pulmonary trunk divides into the left and right
pulmonary arteries.
- Superior border of fibrous pericardium.
- Tracheobronchal lymph nodes.
- Deep and superficial cardiac plexuses.
- Thoracic duct crosses the oesophagus to the left.
- The descending thoracic aorta begins at the inferior border of T4.