Objective To elucidate the dense connective tissue components of mediastinal region through micro-anatomical dissection, providing more detailed mediastinal anatomical data for clinical practice. Methods Two complete mediastinal cross-sectional human tissue specimens were collected. Plastination 45 sectioning plastination technology was used to prepare sections, along with hard tissue sectioning techniques and Masson's trichrome staining to determine the presence and location of film-like structures composed of dense connective tissue. Results In the upper mediastinum, visceral fascia was characterized by its integrity, enveloping esophagus and trachea centrally and transitioning into vascular sheaths peripherally. In the lower mediastinum, the distribution of visceral fascia was more dispersed, covering esophagus, bronchus, and descending aorta, forming esophageal sheath, bronchial sheath, and aortic sheath, respectively. Additionally, the right side of esophagus was in close proximity to the right mediastinal pleura, with a thin or absent esophageal sheath. On the left side of esophagus, the anterior and posterior layers of esophageal fascia were fused or approximated, forming an esophageal paragastric space between two layers, which contains nutritional vessels and lymph nodes of esophagus. Conclusions In micro-anatomical dissection, the thickness of mediastinal visceral fascia and fibrous membrane gradually decreases with descending height, and the interlayer spaces become more distinct. The paraesophageal space in the lower mediastinum can serve as an anatomical basis for guiding the complete mesoesophageal resection and lymph node dissection based on membrane structure anatomy.
Key words
Mediastinum /
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Visceral fascia /
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Plastination 45 (P45) /
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Hard tissue section /
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Esophagus
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