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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.