American Board of Pathology (ABPath) Practice Test

The mediastinum is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity that lies between the two pleural sacs of the lungs. It contains vital structures such as the heart, great vessels, trachea, esophagus, and thymus along with various nerves and lymphatics.

The spermatic cord, which is responsible for containing the blood vessels, nerves, and ductus deferens that supply the testes, is located in the inguinal region and extends into the scrotum. It does not have any anatomical presence in the mediastinum.

In contrast, the rete testis, testicular artery, and efferent ducts are all associated with the male reproductive system and directly linked to the operations of the testes, which are located in the scrotum. However, they have indirect anatomical relationships with areas of the body that could be adjacent or connected with the mediastinum but are not housed within it.

Thus, the spermatic cord is the only structure that is not found in the mediastinum, as it resides in the lower abdominal and scrotal regions instead.