mediastinal surface right lung (anatomy)

Last reviewed 01/2018

The mediastinal surface of the right lung can be considered in terms of the lung root and surrounding surface characteristics. The root is considered to be approximately central upon the mediastinal surface, and the position of features is described with respect to this:

• superiorly:
• groove for azygous vein where it arches over the root of the right lung
• more superiorly, groove for oesophagus vertically up to apex
• anteriorly: groove for superior vena cava progressing vertically; groove is joined by groove for azygous vein posteriorly and grooves for subclavian and/or brachiocephalic vein superiorly
• anteroinferiorly:
• the cardiac impression: much shallower than the equivalent impression on the left lung
• horizontal fissure runs obliquely and inferiorly across cardiac impression
• a groove for the inferior vena cava running vertically down from the root
• one end of the oblique fissure lies anterior to the groove for the inferior vena cava
• inferiorly:
• the pulmonary ligament
• the lower part of a vertically-running groove for the oesophagus
• posteriorly:
• a groove for the oesophagus running vertically downwards immediately posterior to the lung root
• more posteriorly in the superior third of the lung, the oblique fissure

The lung root is considered in the submenu.