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.

Biological Cell Defense

Organisms employ different strategies to boost its defenses against antigens. Humans have an immune system to combat pat..

The Homo Species

The evolution of the species of the genus "Homo" led to the emergence of modern humans. Find out more about human evolut..

Developmental Biology

Developmental biology is a biological science that is primarily concerned with how a living thing grows and attains matu..

Still Water Animals

Animals living in aquatic habitats have diversified and evolved through time. They eventually occupy ecological niches a..

Freshwater Communities & Plankton

Planktons are microscopic organisms that live suspended in aquatic habitats. There are two groups: the phytoplanktons an..

Growth and Plant Hormones

Plants, like animals, produce hormones to regulate plant activities, including growth. They need these hormones to respo..