great vessels (thorax, anatomy)
Last reviewed 01/2018
The great vessels of the thorax are the:
- pulmonary trunk
- aorta
- superior vena cava
- inferior vena cava
- pulmonary veins
The pulmonary trunk and aorta are invested by a common tunic of serous pericarium. Superficial to this, the fibrous pericardium blends with the outer layer of the pulmonary trunk for up to 3cm distance from the heart. The ascending aorta is invested for a slightly longer distance.
The venae cavae and the pulmonary veins are all invested by a separate tunic of serous pericardium. The extension of the coat is very short for all these vessels apart from the superior vena cava where it extends for about 3cm.