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What is a Thoracic Cavity?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

In the upper body there are several different cavities. In the head, humans have the cranial cavity, and just down from that in the chest is the thoracic cavity, which runs from the bottom of the neck down to the end of the ribs, or more accurately at the diaphragm. The rib cages and the thoracic wall may sometimes be called a thoracic cage, but thoracic cavity may be more widely used, especially in the medical field.

There are a number of structures held in the thoracic cavity, and some of the most vital in the human body. The lungs and heart both take residence in this area of the body, and some of the most important vessels that lead in or out of the heart are present here too. These include the aorta, pulmonary artery, and superior and inferior vena cavae.

Structures attached to the lungs are located in this area, including the trachea. Another structure passing through the cavity is the esophagus. Key parts of the endocrine system like the thyroid and thymus glands can be found here too.

The rib cage surrounds the thoracic cavity.
The rib cage surrounds the thoracic cavity.

Ways exist to further categorize the areas of the thoracic cavity. They may be divided into smaller categories called the pleural cavities, and the mediastinum. The term pleural refers to the membranous lining around the lungs that aids in their function. When people have a pleural effusion they have fluid buildup in this lining.

Mediastinum may be used to describe the middle section of the thoracic cavity which holds most everything but the lungs, including heart, great vessels, esophagus, trachea. To make matters slightly more confusing, mediastinum may be separated into anterior, middle and posterior sections. The average person may never need to know quite this much, but these distinctions are vital when it comes to understanding this section of the body from a medical and surgical perspective.

The heart and descending aorta are in the thoracic cavity.
The heart and descending aorta are in the thoracic cavity.

It might be useful to view the thoracic cavity as thoroughly filled with things vital to the body’s function. There are certain nerves present there too, and any surgery taking place in this area must avoid potentially injuring these, while repairing what is needed. This become easier as people grow because the cavity has grown, providing more space between the structures. Yet, it’s somewhat remarkable to think of surgeons being able to perform things like heart or lung surgery on infants, when the structures inside this cavity are tiny, and the cavity itself is not very large. Exceptional precision is certainly required.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

recapitulate

This sort of complexity and need for precision is one of the many reasons why I never considered medicine. While I think I could do it with training, the idea of being depended on to get it right makes me sort of jittery.

sherlock87

The description of the chest cavity almost makes me think that performing surgery on humans is like opening a really difficult container and then trying to close it without anyone catching that you were there in the first place. You know, like on of those times when you were almost caught stealing from the cookie jar as a kid and had to cover your tracks.

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    • The rib cage surrounds the thoracic cavity.
      By: Jaeeho
      The rib cage surrounds the thoracic cavity.
    • The heart and descending aorta are in the thoracic cavity.
      By: bilderzwerg
      The heart and descending aorta are in the thoracic cavity.
    • A pleural effusion occurs when excess fluid builds around the lungs.
      By: Dr Cano
      A pleural effusion occurs when excess fluid builds around the lungs.
    • It sometimes requires cutting through the sternum to reach the thoracic cavity during surgery.
      By: Arkady Chubykin
      It sometimes requires cutting through the sternum to reach the thoracic cavity during surgery.