Thoraxraum

The Thoraxraum, or thoracic cavity, is the enclosed space within the thorax that houses the heart and lungs and surrounding structures. In German anatomy, Thoraxraum denotes the same as the English term thoracic cavity. It is bounded by the sternum anteriorly, the vertebral column posteriorly, the diaphragm inferiorly, and the first ribs and costal cartilages laterally, with its superior limit at the thoracic inlet.

It contains two pleural cavities and the central mediastinum, which is divided into anterior, middle, and posterior compartments. The diaphragm forms the inferior boundary and acts as a muscular barrier between the thorax and abdomen.

Contents include the lungs and their pleural envelopes, the heart and pericardial sac in the middle mediastinum, the trachea and main bronchi, the esophagus, the great vessels (aorta, superior and inferior vena cava, pulmonary arteries and veins), thymus (more prominent in children), nerves such as the phrenic and vagus nerves, and various lymph nodes and vessels.

Function and clinical relevance: The thorax protects vital organs and supports respiration and circulation. Pathologies affecting the thorax include pneumothorax, pleural effusion, mediastinal masses, and chest trauma. Imaging modalities such as X-ray, CT, and MRI, as well as surgical approaches, address disorders of the Thoraxraum.