Thoracic cavity

The thoracic cavity (or chest cavity) is the body cavity 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.

• 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
• structures of the digestive system, including the esophagus,
• , including the thymus gland,
• structures of the nervous system including the paired vagus nerves, and the paired sympathetic chains,
• including the thoracic duct.

It contains three potential spaces lined with mesothelium: the paired pleural cavity and the pericardium. 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.