Gross Topography of the Thorax

What is contained within the thorax?

The heart, distal airways and lungs, thoracic oesophagus, thymus, blood vessels, nerves, lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels.

What seals the thorax cranially?

Thoracic inlet.

What seals the thorax dorsally?

Thoracic vertebra.

What seals the thorax laterally?

The ribcage.

What seals the thorax ventrally?

The sternum.

What seals the thorax caudally?

The diaphragm.

Where is the heart situated with respect to the lungs?

Ventral to the hilum (root) and between the left and right lung.

What serous membrane lines the thorax?

Pleura.

What pleural membrane lines the lungs?

Visceral pleura.

Explain the mediastinum region of the thorax

A region in the thorax that contains all the principle organs and tissues of the thorax except the lungs.

What does the mediastinal pleura line?

The mediastinum region.

What does the diaphragmatic pleura line?

The superior surface of the diaphragm.

What does the costal pleura line?

The ribs.

What are the constituents of the parietal pleura?

The costal, diaphragmatic and mediastinal pleura.

What do the parietal pleura form?

The pleural cavity.