Structure
The mediastinal pleura sits on the lateral aspect of the mediastinum and has different anatomical relations on the left and the right.
At the hilum the mediastinal pleura reflects in a lateral direction and is continuous with the visceral pleura. This forms the pleural sleeve which extends inferiorly from the hilum as the pulmonary ligament.
Anatomical Relations
The mediastinal parietal pleura is continuous with the cervical parietal pleura superiorly, the costal pleura laterally, and the diaphragmatic pleura inferiorly.
The right mediastinal pleura lines the right brachiocephalic vein, upper superior vena cava, azygos vein, right phrenic and vagus nerves, esophagus, and trachea.
The left mediastinal pleura lines the aortic arch, left vagus and phrenic nerves, left brachiocephalic and superior intercostal veins, left common carotid and subclavian arteries, thoracic duct, and esophagus.
