<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Anatomical terminology (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> The mediastinum (from Medieval Latin mediastinus, "midway") is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity surrounded by loose connective tissue, as an undelineated region that contains a group of structures within the thorax . The mediastinum contains the heart and its vessels, the esophagus, trachea, phrenic and cardiac nerves, the thoracic duct, thymus and lymph nodes of the central chest . </P> <P> The mediastinum lies within the thorax and is enclosed on the right and left by pleurae . It is surrounded by the chest wall in front, the lungs to the sides and the spine at the back . It extends from the sternum in front to the vertebral column behind, and contains all the organs of the thorax except the lungs . It is continuous with the loose connective tissue of the neck . </P> <P> The mediastinum can be divided into an upper (or superior) and lower (or inferior) part: </P>

Where is the mediastinum located in the human body