Unlike the abdominal viscera the thoracic viscera is separated into two compartments by an area called the mediastinum. What is the clinical importance of this compartmental arrangement?

The importance of this compartmental arrangement is the fact that the mediastinum region of the body houses essential organs. The region contains the thymus, pericardial cavity, trachea, esophagus and major blood vessels. The separation provides these body parts with a barrier of tissues. The mediastinum also separates one lung from the other. This is functionally important as it allows one lung to work independently of the other in cases where one may be diseased or injured.