Thoracic cavity

Thoracic cavity
Body cavities
The thorax from the right.
Latin	cavitas thoracis
Gray's	subject #136 524
Dorlands/Elsevier	c_16/12220616

WikiDoc Resources for Thoracic cavity
Articles
Most recent articles on Thoracic cavity Most cited articles on Thoracic cavity Review articles on Thoracic cavity Articles on Thoracic cavity in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Thoracic cavity Images of Thoracic cavity Photos of Thoracic cavity Podcasts & MP3s on Thoracic cavity Videos on Thoracic cavity
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Thoracic cavity Bandolier on Thoracic cavity TRIP on Thoracic cavity
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Thoracic cavity at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Thoracic cavity Clinical Trials on Thoracic cavity at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Thoracic cavity NICE Guidance on Thoracic cavity NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Thoracic cavity CDC on Thoracic cavity
Books
Books on Thoracic cavity
News
Thoracic cavity in the news Be alerted to news on Thoracic cavity News trends on Thoracic cavity
Commentary
Blogs on Thoracic cavity
Definitions
Definitions of Thoracic cavity
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Thoracic cavity Discussion groups on Thoracic cavity Patient Handouts on Thoracic cavity Directions to Hospitals Treating Thoracic cavity Risk calculators and risk factors for Thoracic cavity
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Thoracic cavity Causes & Risk Factors for Thoracic cavity Diagnostic studies for Thoracic cavity Treatment of Thoracic cavity
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Thoracic cavity
International
Thoracic cavity en Espanol Thoracic cavity en Francais
Business
Thoracic cavity in the Marketplace Patents on Thoracic cavity
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Thoracic cavity

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

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.

External links

• thoracic+cavity at eMedicine Dictionary
• chest+wall at eMedicine Dictionary (also known as "thoracic wall")
• Norman/Georgetown thoraxlesson3

lt:Krūtinės ląstos ertmėfi:Rintaontelo