Thoracic Cavity - Wikipedia

Body cavity surrounded by the rib cage

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Thoracic cavity
Lateral view of body cavities with thoracic cavity labeled at the right
Details
Identifiers
Latin	cavitas thoracis, cavum thoracis
MeSH	D035423
TA98	A01.1.00.049 A02.3.04.002 A07.0.00.000
TA2	1097, 126
FMA	7565
Anatomical terminology[edit on Wikidata]

The thoracic cavity (or chest cavity) is the chamber of the body of vertebrates that is protected by the thoracic wall (rib cage and associated skin, muscle, and fascia). The central compartment of the thoracic cavity is the mediastinum. There are two openings of the thoracic cavity, a superior thoracic aperture known as the thoracic inlet and a lower inferior thoracic aperture known as the thoracic outlet.

The thoracic cavity includes the tendons as well as the cardiovascular system which could be damaged from injury to the back, spine or the neck.

Structure

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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 diaphragm, trachea, bronchi and lungs[1]
• 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. The cavity also contains two openings one at the top, the superior thoracic aperture also called the thoracic inlet, and a lower inferior thoracic aperture which is much larger than the inlet.

Clinical significance

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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.

Additional images

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• CT scan of the thorax (axial mediastinal window)
• CT scan of the thorax (coronal lung window)
• CT scan of the thorax (coronal mediastinal window)
• Illustration of heart in thoracic cavity
• Illustration of heart position relative to the rib cage

See also

[edit] This article uses anatomical terminology.

References

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1. ^ Eskandarlou, M.; Moaddab, A. H. (2010). "Chest wall necrosis and empyema resulting from attempting suicide by injection of petroleum into the pleural cavity". Emergency Medicine Journal. 27 (8): 616–8. doi:10.1136/emj.2009.073486. PMID 20558490. S2CID 206938595.

External links

[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thoracic cavity.

• thoraxlesson3 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)

v t e Human systems and organs
Musculoskeletal system	Skeletal system Bone Carpus Collar bone (clavicle) Thigh bone (femur) Fibula Humerus Mandible Metacarpus Metatarsus Ossicles Patella Phalanges Radius Skull Tarsus Tibia Ulna Rib Vertebra Pelvis Sternum Cartilage Joints Fibrous joint Cartilaginous joint Synovial joint Muscular system Muscle Tendon Diaphragm
Circulatory system	Cardiovascular system peripheral Artery Vein Lymphatic vessel Heart Lymphatic system primary Bone marrow Thymus secondary Spleen Lymph node CNS equivalent Glymphatic system
Nervous system	Brain Spinal cord Nerve Sensory system Ear Eye Somatic system Tissue
Integumentary system	Skin Subcutaneous tissue Breast Mammary gland
Haematopoietic and immune systems	Myeloid Myeloid immune system Lymphoid Lymphoid immune system
Respiratory system	Upper Nose Nasopharynx Larynx Lower Trachea Bronchus Lung
Digestive system	Mouth Salivary gland Tongue Lip Tooth upper GI Oropharynx Laryngopharynx Esophagus Stomach lower GI Small intestine Appendix Colon Rectum Anus accessory Liver Biliary tract Pancreas
Urinary system	Genitourinary system Kidney Ureter Bladder Urethra
Reproductive system	Male Scrotum Penis Prostate Testicle Seminal vesicle Female Uterus Vagina Vulva Ovary Placenta
Endocrine system	Pituitary Pineal Thyroid Parathyroid Adrenal Islets of Langerhans

v t e Muscles of the thorax and back
Back	splenius capitis cervicis erector spinae iliocostalis longissimus spinalis Transversospinales semispinalis multifidus rotatores interspinales intertransversarii Vertebral column trapezius latissimus dorsi rhomboid major minor levator scapulae Fascia thoracolumbar fascia
Thorax	Intercostal muscles external internal innermost subcostalis transversus thoracis levatores costarum serratus posterior inferior superior thoracic diaphragm Thoracic cavity pectoralis major pectoralis minor subclavius serratus anterior sternalis Fascia pectoral fascia clavipectoral fascia

v t e Anatomy of the thorax
General	Mediastinum Thoracic wall
Pleural cavity	Parietal pleura Visceral pleura Pulmonary ligament Recesses Costomediastinal Costodiaphragmatic Endothoracic fascia Suprapleural membrane

Authority control databases	Terminologia Anatomica 2 3