Thoracic Cavity Flashcards
Where does the thoracic cavity lie?
within the thoracic cage
Where does the thoracic cavity begin and end?
begins: cranial opening of the chest (apertura thoracis CRANIALIS)
ends: thoracic outlet (apertura thoracic CAUDIALIS)
What is the intrathoracic part of the abdominal cavity?
the section of the thoracic cavity caudal of the diaphragm
What is the thoracic cavity composed of? how many cavities?
- 2 pleural cavities (each cavity surrounds a lung
What are the pleural cavities lined with?
serous membrane (pleura)
What are the two types of pleura?
1) PARIETAL PLEURA:
- costal pleura
- mediastinal pleura
- diaphragmatic pleura
2) VISCERAL PLEURA:
- pulmonary pleura
What is the mediastinum?
the space between the left and right layer of the pleura mediastinilis (the space b/w the right and left lung)
How is the mediastinum divided?
Into 3 parts:
1) CRANIAL
2) MIDDLE (CARDIAL)
3) CAUDAL (POSTCARDIAL)
What is part of the cranial mediastinum?
- supply vessels (run to the head, cranial limbs, and cranial wall of the cavity)
- nerve tracts
- lymphatic vessels
- trachea
- oesophagus
- thymus gland
What is part of the middle/cardial mediastinum?
- heart (in the pericardium)
- large blood vessels
- thoracic duct
- oesophagus
- trachea
- bronchi
What is part of the caudal mediastinum?
stretches between the heart and diaphragm
- aorta
- veins
- sympathetic trunk
- thoracic duct
- thoracic artery
- lungs
- oesophagus
What does the thoracic wall consist of?
A bony framework held together by twelve thoracic vertebrae posteriorly, giving rise to ribs that encircle the lateral and anterior thoracic cavity.
What organ systems does the thoracic cavity hold?
- respiratory system (lungs, bronchi, trachea, pleura),
- cardiovascular system (heart, pericardium, great vessels, lymphatics),
- nervous system (vagus nerve, sympathetic chain, phrenic nerve, recurrent laryngeal nerve),
- immune system (thymus),
- digestive (esophagus) system.
