 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (May 2015) |
| Thoracic cavity | |
|---|---|
 Lateral view of body cavities with thoracic cavity labeled at the right | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | cavitas thoracis, cavum thoracis |
| MeSH | D035423 |
| TA98 | A01.1.00.049 A02.3.04.002 A07.0.00.000 |
| TA2 | 1097, 126 |
| FMA | 7565 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The thoracic cavity (or chest cavity) is the chamber of the body of vertebrates that is protected by the thoracic wall (rib cage and associated skin, muscle, and fascia). The central compartment of the thoracic cavity is the mediastinum. There are two openings of the thoracic cavity, a superior thoracic aperture known as the thoracic inlet and a lower inferior thoracic aperture known as the thoracic outlet.
The thoracic cavity includes the tendons as well as the cardiovascular system which could be damaged from injury to the back, spine or the neck.