thoracic cavity (anatomy)
Last reviewed 01/2018
The thoracic cavity can be divided into:
- 2 pleural cavities; contain the lungs within the pleural cavity
- the mediastinum; intervenes between the two thoracic cavities and contains vital structures e.g.:
- heart
- great vessels
- trachea
- oesophagus
- thymus
- nerves e.g. phrenic, vagus