Thorax

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This article is about the anatomy concept. For other uses, see Thorax (disambiguation).
"Chest" redirects here. For the furniture used for storage, see Chest (furniture). For other uses, see Chest
(disambiguation).

Thorax
Chest

X-ray image of the chest showing the internal anatomy

of the rib cage, lungs and heart as well as
the inferior thoracic border–made up of
the diaphragm.
Surface projections of the organs of the trunk,
with the thorax or chest region seen stretching down
to approximately the end of the oblique lung
fissure anteriorly, but more deeply it its lower
limit rather corresponds to the upper border of the
liver.

Details

Identifiers

Latin thorax

Greek θώραξ

MeSH D013909

TA A01.1.00.014

FMA 9576

Anatomical terminology

[edit on Wikidata]
 The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans and various other animals located between the neck and
the abdomen.[1][2] The thorax includes the thoracic cavity and the thoracic wall. It contains organs including
the heart, lungs, and thymus gland, as well as muscles and various other internal structures. Many diseases may
affect the chest, and one of the most common symptoms is chest pain. The word thorax comes from
the Greek θώραξ thorax "breastplate, cuirass, corslet"[3] via Latin: thorax.

Contents

 1Structure
 1.1Contents
 1.2The chest
 1.3Bones
 1.4Anatomical landmarks
 2Clinical significance

 2.1Injury
 2.2Pain
 2.2.1Non-cardiac causes of chest pain
 2.3Atelectasis
 2.4Pneumothorax
 3Other animals

 3.1In tetrapods
 3.2In arthropods
 4Additional Images
 5See also
 6References
 7External links

Structure[edit]
In humans and other hominids, the thorax is the chest region of the body between the neck and the abdomen, along
with its internal organs and other contents. It is mostly protected and supported by the rib cage, spine, and shoulder
girdle.

Contents[edit]
Main article: Thoracic cavity

An X-ray of a human chest area, with some structures labeled

The contents of the thorax include the heart and lungs (and the thymus gland); the (major and minor pectoral
muscles, trapezius muscles, and neck muscle); and internal structures such as the diaphragm, the esophagus,
the trachea, and a part of the sternum known as the xiphoid process). Arteries and veins are also contained –
(aorta, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava and the pulmonary artery); bones (the shoulder socket containing the
upper part of the humerus, the scapula, sternum, thoracic portion of the spine, collarbone, and the rib cage
and floating ribs).
External structures are the skin and nipples.

The chest[edit]
In the human body, the region of the thorax between the neck and diaphragm in the front of the body is called the
chest. The corresponding area in an animal can also be referred to as the chest.
The shape of the chest does not correspond to that part of the thoracic skeleton that encloses the heart and lungs. All
the breadth of the shoulders is due to the shoulder girdle, and contains the axillae and the heads of the humeri. In the
middle line the suprasternal notch is seen above, while about three fingers' breadth below it a transverse ridge can be
felt, which is known as the sternal angle and this marks the junction between the manubrium and body of
the sternum. Level with this line the second ribs join the sternum, and when these are found the lower ribs can often
be counted. At the lower part of the sternum, where the seventh or last true ribs join it, the ensiform cartilage begins,
and above this there is often a depression known as the pit of the stomach.

Bones[edit]
The bones of the thorax, called the "thoracic skeleton" is a component of the axial skeleton.
It consists of the ribs and sternum.The ribs of the thorax are numbered in ascending order from 1-12. 11 & 12 are
known as floating ribs because they have no anterior attachment point in particular the cartilage attached to the
sternum, as 1-7 are, and therefore are termed "floating". Whereas ribs 8-10 are termed false ribs as their costal
cartilage articulates with the costal cartilage of the rib above.

Anatomical landmarks[edit]
The anatomy of the chest can also be described through the use of anatomical landmarks. The nipple in the male is
situated in front of the fourth rib or a little below; vertically it lies a little external to a line drawn down from the
middle of the clavicle; in the female it is not so constant. A little below it the lower limit of the great pectoral muscle
is seen running upward and outward to the axilla; in the female this is obscured by the breast, which extends from the
second to the sixth rib vertically and from the edge of the sternum to the mid-axillary line laterally. The female nipple
is surrounded for half an inch by a more or less pigmented disc, the areola. The apex of a normal heart is in the fifth
left intercostal space, three and a half inches from the mid-line.

Clinical significance[edit]

High-resolution computed tomographs of a normal thorax, taken in the axial, coronal and sagittal planes,
respectively.

Click here to scroll through the image stacks.

This type of investigation can be used for detecting both acute and chronic changes in the lung parenchyma.

Different types of diseases or conditions that affect the chest include pleurisy, flail chest, atelectasis, and the most
common condition, chest pain. These conditions can be hereditary or caused by birth defects or trauma. Any
condition that lowers the ability to either breathe deeply or to cough is considered a chest disease or condition.
Injury[edit]
Injury to the chest (also referred to as chest trauma, thoracic injury, or thoracic trauma) results in up to ¼ of all deaths
due to trauma in the United States.[4]
The major pathophysiologies encountered in blunt chest trauma involve derangements in the flow of air, blood, or
both in combination. Sepsis due to leakage of alimentary tract contents, as in esophageal perforations, also must be
considered. Blunt trauma commonly results in chest wall injuries (e.g., rib fractures). The pain associated with these
injuries can make breathing difficult, and this may compromise ventilation. Direct lung injuries, such as pulmonary
contusions (see the image below), are frequently associated with major chest trauma and may impair ventilation by a
similar mechanism.

Pain[edit]
Chest pain can be the result of multiple issues, including respiratory problems, digestive issues,
and musculoskeletal complications. The pain can trigger cardiac issues as well. Not all pain that is felt is associated
with the heart, but it should not be taken lightly either. Symptoms can be different depending on the cause of the
pain.[5] While cardiac issues cause feelings of sudden pressure in the chest or a crushing pain in the back, neck, and
arms, pain that is felt due to noncardiac issues gives a burning feeling along the digestive tract or pain when deep
breaths are attempted. Different people feel pains differently for the same condition. Only a patient truly knows if the
symptoms are mild or serious.
Chest pain may be a symptom of myocardial infarctions ('heart attack'). If this condition is present in the body,
discomfort will be felt in the chest that is similar to a heavy weight placed on the body. Sweating, shortness of
breath, lightheadedness, and irregular heartbeat may also be experienced. If a heart attack occurs, the bulk of the
damage is caused during the first six hours, so getting the proper treatment as quickly as possible is important. Some
people, especially those who are elderly or have diabetes, may not have typical chest pain but may have many of the
other symptoms of a heart attack. It is important that these patients and their caregivers have a good understanding of
heart attack symptoms.

Non-cardiac causes of chest pain[edit]

Just like with a heart attack, not all chest pain is suffered because of a condition involving the heart. Chest wall pain
can be experienced after an increase in activity. Persons who add exercise to their daily routine generally feel this
type of pain at the beginning. It is important to monitor the pain to ensure that it is not a sign of something more
serious. Pain can also be experienced in persons who have an upper respiratory infection. This virus is also
accompanied by a fever and cough. Shingles is another viral infection that can give symptoms of chest or rib pain
before a rash develops. Injuries to the rib cage or sternum is also a common cause of chest pain. It is generally felt
when deep breaths are taken or during a cough.

Atelectasis[edit]
Another non cardiac cause of chest pain is atelectasis. It is a condition that suffered when a portion of the lung
collapses from being airless. When bronchial tubes are blocked, this condition develops and causes patients to feel
shortness of breath. The most common cause of atelectasis is when a bronchi that extends from the windpipe is
blocked and traps air. The blockage may be caused by something inside the bronchus, such as a plug of mucus,
a tumour, or an inhaled foreign object such as a coin, piece of food, or a toy.[6] It is possible for something outside of
the bronchus to cause the blockage.

Pneumothorax[edit]
Pneumothorax is the condition where air or gas can build up in the pleural space. It can occur without a known cause
or as the result of a lung disease or acute lung injury.[7] The size of the pneumothorax changes as air or gas builds up,
so a medical procedure can release the pressure with a needle. If it is untreated, blood flow can be interrupted and
cause a drop in blood pressure known as tension pneumothorax. It is possible for smaller cases to clear up on their
own. Symptoms of this condition are often felt only on one side of the lung or as a shortness of breath.

Other animals[edit]
 The trilobite body is divided into three major sections, a cephalon with eyes, mouthparts and sensory organs
such as antennae, a thorax of multiple similar segments (that in some species allowed them to roll up into a ball),
and a pygidium, or tail section.

In the worker ant, the abdomen consists of the propodeum fused to the thorax and the metasoma, itself divided
into the narrow petiole and bulbous gaster.

In tetrapods[edit]
In mammals, the thorax is the region of the body formed by the sternum, the thoracic vertebrae, and the ribs. It
extends from the neck to the diaphragm, and does not include the upper limbs. The heart and the lungs reside in
the thoracic cavity, as well as many blood vessels. The inner organs are protected by the rib cage and the sternum.
Thoracic vertebrae are also distinguished in birds, but not in reptiles.

In arthropods[edit]
Main article: Thorax (insect anatomy)
In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main divisions (or tagmata) of the
creature's body, each of which is in turn composed of multiple segments. It is the area where the wings and legs
attach in insects, or an area of multiple articulating plates in trilobites. In most insects, the thorax itself is composed
of three segments; the prothorax, the mesothorax, and the metathorax. In extant insects, the prothorax never has
wings, though legs are always present in adults; wings (when present) are restricted to at least the mesothorax, and
 typically also the metathorax, though the wings may be reduced or modified on either or both segments. In
the Apocritan Hymenoptera, the first abdominal segment is fused to the metathorax, where it forms a structure
known as the propodeum. Accordingly, in these insects, the functional thorax is composed of four segments, and is
therefore typically called the mesosoma to distinguish it from the "thorax" of other insects.
Each thoracic segment in an insect is further subdivided into various parts, the most significant of which are the
dorsal portion (the notum), the lateral portion (the pleuron; one on each side), and the ventral portion (the sternum).
In some insects, each of these parts is composed of one to several independent exoskeletal plates with membrane
between them (called sclerites), though in many cases the sclerites are fused to various degrees.

Additional Images[edit]



Volume rendering of a high resolution computed tomography of the thorax. The anterior thoracic wall, the
airways and the pulmonary vessels anterior to the root of the lung have been digitally removed in order to
visualize the different levels of the pulmonary circulation.


Thorax. Anterior view.



Thorax. Anterior view.

See also[edit]
This article uses anatomical terminology; for an overview, see anatomical terminology.

 Pectus carinatum
 Pectus excavatum
 Thoracic cavity
 Cardiothoracic surgery

References