THORAX

in amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, the chest. In humans and other mammals the chest is that part of the body between the neck and abdomen. In humans the bony framework of the thorax consists of the 12 thoracic vertebrae, 12 pairs of ribs, and the sternum (breastbone). The mammalian thorax contains the chief organs of respiration and circulation, namely, the lungs, some air passages, the heart, and the great vessels (see thoracic cavity). Below, it is bounded by the diaphragm. The bony framework is encased with muscles, fat, and cutaneous tissues. In insects the thorax is the middle of the three major divisions of the body. It is composed of three parts, each of which commonly bears a pair of legs; the rearward two parts usually each bear a pair of wings.