THORACIC CAVITY


Meaning of THORACIC CAVITY in English

or chest cavity

Second largest hollow space of the body, enclosed by the ribs, vertebral column , and breastbone and separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm .

It contains the lung s and bronchi, part of the esophagus and trachea , and the heart and major blood vessels. A membrane called the pleura lines the cavity (parietal pleura) and continues over the lung (visceral pleura) and the rest of the cavity's contents, defining a space called the mediastinum. Disorders include blood (hemothorax) or air (pneumothorax, which can lead to atelectasis ) in the pleural cavity and inflammation of the pleura (pleurisy).

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.