View source for Thoracic cavity

{{Short description|Body cavity surrounded by the rib cage}}
{{One source|article|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name        = Thoracic cavity
| Latin       = cavitas thoracis, cavum thoracis
| Image       = Scheme body cavities-en.svg
| Caption     = Lateral view of body cavities with thoracic cavity labeled at the right
| Width       =
| Image2      =
| Caption2    = The thorax from the right.
| Precursor   =
| System      =
| Artery      =
| Vein        =
| Nerve       =
| Lymph       =
}}
[[Image:Gray846.png|thumb|250px|The picture displays the [[mediastinum]] on [[sagittal plane]], [[thoracic diaphragm]] at the bottom, the [[heart]] (cor), behind [[sternum]] and [[rib]]s (to the left on the picture (this is the anterior/front) and to the right (posterior/back)), you have the [[thoracic vertebrae]].]]

The '''thoracic cavity''' (or '''chest cavity''') is the [[body cavity|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==
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 vena cava|superior]] and [[inferior vena cava]], the [[pulmonary veins]], and the [[azygos vein]]
* structures of the [[respiratory system]], including the [[Thoracic diaphragm|diaphragm]], [[Vertebrate trachea|trachea]], [[bronchi]] and [[lungs]]<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1136/emj.2009.073486 |pmid=20558490 |title=Chest wall necrosis and empyema resulting from attempting suicide by injection of petroleum into the pleural cavity |journal=Emergency Medicine Journal |volume=27 |issue=8 |pages=616–8 |year=2010 |last1=Eskandarlou |first1=M. |last2=Moaddab |first2=A. H. |s2cid=206938595 }}</ref>
* structures of the [[digestive system]], including the [[esophagus]],
* [[endocrine gland]]s, including the [[thymus gland]],
* structures of the [[nervous system]] including the paired [[vagus]] nerves, and the paired [[sympathetic chain]]s,
* [[lymphatic]]s including the [[thoracic duct]].

It contains three potential spaces lined with [[mesothelium]]: the paired [[pleural cavity|pleural cavities]] and the [[pericardium|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==
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==
<gallery>
File:CT-Thorax-5.0-B31f.ogg|CT scan of the thorax (axial mediastinal window)
File:COR-2-STND-CHEST.ogg|CT scan of the thorax (coronal lung window)
File:COR-2-STND-CHEST-MEDIASTINUM.ogg|CT scan of the thorax (coronal mediastinal window)
File:Blausen 0458 Heart ThoracicCavity.png|Illustration of heart in thoracic cavity
File:Blausen 0467 HeartLocation.png|Illustration of heart position relative to the rib cage
 </gallery>

==See also==
{{Anatomy-terms}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* {{NormanAnatomy|thoraxlesson3}}

{{Human systems and organs}}
{{Muscles of thorax and back}}
{{Thoracic cavity}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Thoracic cavity| ]]