Intrathoracoabdominal

Intrathoracoabdominal is an anatomical descriptor used to indicate a region, structure, or pathology located in both the thoracic and abdominal cavities or that traverses the diaphragm between them. The term combines intra- to indicate within, with thoraco- referencing the chest and abdominal referencing the abdomen. The diaphragm is the key boundary separating the two cavities, so intrathoracoabdominal refers to elements that cross or extend across that boundary.

In practice, the expression is most common in discussions of vessels and surgical exposure, such as the thoracoabdominal aorta, the portion of the aorta that spans from the distal thoracic segment into the abdominal segment as it passes through the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm. The term may also describe pathological processes, injuries, or congenital defects that involve tissues bridging both cavities, including certain hernias or vascular anomalies.

Clinical relevance centers on procedures and risk management that involve both thoracic and abdominal anatomy. Thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair, for example, requires consideration of the shared blood supply to spinal, renal, and visceral organs and the need to preserve perfusion during cross-diaphragmatic exposure or stent-graft deployment. Imaging with CT or MRI angiography aims to delineate the extent of intrathoracoabdominal involvement for planning treatment.

See also: thoracoabdominal, diaphragm, thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity, aorta, aneurysm repair.