Costomediastinal recess

The costomediastinal recess is a potential space at the border of the mediastinal pleura and the costal pleura. It assists lung expansion during deep inspiration, although its role is not as significant as the costodiaphragmatic recess, which has a greater volume. The lung expands into the costomediastinal recess even during shallow inspiration. The costomediastinal recess is most obvious in the cardiac notch of the left lung.

Costomediastinal recess
Front view of thorax, showing the relations of the pleuræ and lungs to the chest wall. Pleura in blue; lungs in purple.
Details
Identifiers
Latin	recessus costomediastinalis pleuralis
TA	A07.1.02.014
FMA	9747
Anatomical terminology

See also

• Costodiaphragmatic recess
• Mediastinum

External links

• Anatomy photo:19:03-0101 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Pleural Cavities and Lungs: The Costomediastinal Recess"
• Atlas image: lung_pleura at the University of Michigan Health System - "X-ray, chest, posteroanterior view"
• Diagram at port.ac.uk