Thoracic cavity - wikipedia Thoracic cavity Thoracic cavity Details Identifiers Latin Cavitas thoracis, cavum thoracis MeSH D035423 TA A01. 1.00. 049 FMA 7565 Anatomical terminology ( edit on Wikidata ) This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. ( May 2015 ) The picture displays the Mediastinum on sagittal plane, Thoracic diaphragm at the bottom, the heart ( Cor ), behind Sternum and Costae ( to the left on the picture ( This is the Anterior ( front ) ) ) and to the right ( Posterior ( back ) ) you have the Thoracic vertebrae. 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. Contents 1 Structure 2 Clinical significance 3 Additional images 4 See also 5 References 6 External links Structure Structures within the thoracic cavity include : structures of the cardiovascular system, including the heart and great vessels, which include the thoracic aorta, the pulmonary artery and all its branches, the superior and inferior vena cava, the pulmonary veins, and the azygos vein structures of the respiratory system, including the Diaphragm, trachea, bronchi and lungs structures of the digestive system, including the esophagus, endocrine glands, including the thymus gland, structures of the nervous system including the paired vagus nerves, and the paired sympathetic chains, lymphatics including the thoracic duct. It contains three potential spaces lined with mesothelium : the paired pleural cavities and the pericardial cavity. The mediastinum comprises those organs which lie in the centre of the chest between the lungs. The cavity also contains two openings one at the top, the superior thoracic aperture also called the thoracic inlet, and a lower inferior thoracic aperture which is much larger than the inlet. Clinical significance If the pleural cavity is breached from the outside, as by a bullet wound or knife wound, a pneumothorax, or air in the cavity, may result. If the volume of air is significant, one or both lungs may collapse, which requires immediate medical attention. Additional images Illustration of Heart in Thoracic Cavity Illustration of Heart Position Relative to the Rib Cage See also This article uses anatomical terminology ; for an overview, see Anatomical terminology. References Jump up ^ Eskandarlou, M. ; Moaddab, A.H. ( 2010 ). `` Chest wall necrosis and empyema resulting from attempting suicide by injection of petroleum into the pleural cavity ''. Emergency Medicine Journal. 27 ( 8 ) : 616 -- 8. doi : 10.1136 / emj. 2009.073486. PMID 20558490. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thoracic cavity. thoraxlesson3 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman ( Georgetown University ) Human systems and organs Musculoskeletal Skeletal system Bone Carpus Collar bone ( clavicle ) Thigh bone ( femur ) Fibula Humerus Mandible Metacarpus Metatarsus Ossicles Patella Phalanges Radius Skull Tarsus Tibia Ulna Rib Vertebra Pelvis Sternum Cartilage Joints Fibrous joint Cartilaginous joint Synovial joint Muscular system Muscle Tendon Diaphragm Circulatory system Cardiovascular system peripheral Artery Vein Lymphatic vessel Heart Lymphatic system primary Bone marrow Thymus secondary Spleen Lymph node CNS equivalent Glymphatic system Nervous system Brain Spinal cord Nerve Sensory system Ear Eye Integumentary system Skin Subcutaneous tissue Breast Mammary gland Immune system Myeloid Myeloid immune system Lymphoid Lymphoid immune system Respiratory system Upper Nose Nasopharynx Larynx Lower Trachea Bronchus Lung Digestive system Mouth Salivary gland Tongue upper GI Oropharynx Laryngopharynx Esophagus Stomach lower GI Small intestine Appendix Colon Rectum Anus accessory Liver Biliary tract Pancreas Urinary system Genitourinary system Kidney Ureter Bladder Urethra Reproductive system Female Uterus Vagina Vulva Ovary Placenta Male Scrotum Penis Prostate Testicle Seminal vesicle Endocrine system Pituitary Pineal Thyroid Parathyroid Adrenal Islets of Langerhans Muscles of the thorax and back Back splenius capitis cervicis erector spinae iliocostalis longissimus spinalis transversospinales semispinalis thoracis semispinalis cervicis semispinalis capitis multifidus rotatores interspinales intertransversarii Vertebral column trapezius latissimus dorsi rhomboid major minor levator scapulae Fascia thoracolumbar fascia Thorax Intercostal muscle external internal innermost subcostalis transversus thoracis levatores costarum serratus posterior inferior superior thoracic diaphragm Thoracic cavity pectoralis major pectoralis minor subclavius serratus anterior sternalis Fascia pectoral fascia clavipectoral fascia Anatomy of the thorax General Mediastinum Thoracic wall Pleural cavity Parietal pleura Visceral pleura Pulmonary ligament Recesses Costomediastinal Costodiaphragmatic Endothoracic fascia Suprapleural membrane Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thoracic_cavity&oldid=835165858 '' Categories : Thoracic cavity Hidden categories : Pages with unresolved properties Articles needing additional references from May 2015 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Беларуская Brezhoneg Čeština Dansk Deutsch فارسی Français Galego Қазақша Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Português Русский کوردی Suomi Svenska Tagalog ไทย Українська Võro 中文 15 more Edit links This page was last edited on 6 April 2018, at 23 : 38. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: what are the two dominant systems in the thoracic cavity
Answer: structures of the cardiovascular system, including the heart and great vessels, which include the thoracic aorta, the pulmonary artery and all its branches, the superior and inferior vena cava, the pulmonary veins, and the azygos vein