Space
Costomediastinal recess
Anterior pleural interval beside the mediastinum
High-yield
Distinguish a lung-free pleural recess from an area outside the pleural sac: absence of overlying lung does not necessarily mean absence of pleura.
Overview
At the front of the chest, costal pleura turns toward the mediastinum. The lung margin does not fill all of this interval at rest, particularly on the left near the cardiac notch.
Reference facts
- Boundaries
- Anterior reflection between costal and mediastinal parietal pleura
- Contents
- A fluid-lined interval variably occupied by the anterior lung margin during breathing
- Communications
- Continuous with the adjacent pleural cavity and lower pleural recess
Clinical correlation
The proximity of pleura, heart and chest wall matters when planning anterior thoracic procedures. Surface landmarks alone do not guarantee that a route avoids pleura.
Frequently asked questions
What are the boundaries of the costomediastinal recess?
Anterior reflection between costal and mediastinal parietal pleura.
What does the costomediastinal recess contain?
A fluid-lined interval variably occupied by the anterior lung margin during breathing.
What does the costomediastinal recess communicate with?
The costomediastinal recess communicates with the continuous with the adjacent pleural cavity and lower pleural recess.