Thoracic cavity

Definition
noun
The body cavity of the human body (and other animal bodies) protected by the thoracic walls, and located below the diaphragm and above the neck.
Supplement
The thoracic cavity is that part of the ventral body cavity containing the following body structures:

heart and the great vessels
lungs, bronchi, and trachea
a part of the esophagus
thymus gland
the paired vagus nerves and the paired sympathetic chains
thoracic duct.

Synonym: chest cavity, cavitas thoracis, cavum thoracis.

Compare: abdominopelvic cavity.

See also: ventral body cavity.

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