Thoracic cavity

Thoracic cavity
Body cavities
The thorax from the right.
Latin	cavitas thoracis
Gray's	subject #136 524
Dorlands/Elsevier	Thoracic cavity

The thoracic cavity (or chest cavity) is the chamber of the human body (and other animal bodies) that is protected by the thoracic wall (thoracic cage and associated skin, muscle, and fascia).

Components

Structures within the thoracic cavity include:

• structures of the cardiovascular system, including the heart and great vessels, which include the thoracic aorta, the pulmonary artery and all its branches, the superior and inferior vena cava, the pulmonary veins, and the azygos vein
• structures of the respiratory system, including the trachea, bronchi and lungs
• structures of the digestive system, including the esophagus,
• endocrine glands, including the thymus gland,
• structures of the nervous system including the paired vagus nerves, and the paired sympathetic chains,
• lymphatics including the thoracic duct.

It contains three potential spaces lined with mesothelium: the paired pleural cavities and the pericardial cavity. The mediastinum comprises those organs which lie in the centre of the chest between the lungs.

Thoracic cavity seen from left. Lungs, among others removed.

Boundaries

The thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm. The thoracic inlet is the upper limit of the thoracic cavity, formed by the manubrium in front, the first ribs laterally, and the spine posteriorly.

Clinical significance

If the pleural cavity is breached from the outside, as by a bullet wound or knife wound, a pneumothorax, or air in the cavity, may result. If the volume of air is significant, one or both lungs may collapse, which requires immediate medical attention.

In animals

The organs (offal) of the thoracic cavity of livestock are known collectively as pluck.

External links

• thoracic+cavity at eMedicine Dictionary
• chest+wall at eMedicine Dictionary (also known as "thoracic wall")
• thoraxlesson3 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)