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Thorax
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This article is about the anatomy concept. For other uses, see Thorax (disambiguation).
Contents "Chest" redirects here. For the furniture used for storage, see Chest (furniture). For other
Current events uses, see Chest (disambiguation).
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The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of
About Wikipedia Thorax
humans, mammals, other tetrapod animals located
Contact us Chest
Donate between the neck and the abdomen .[1][2] In insects ,
crustaceans , and the extinct trilobites , the thorax is one
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of the three main divisions of the creature's body, each
Help of which is in turn composed of multiple segments.
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Community portal The human thorax includes the thoracic cavity and the
Recent changes thoracic wall . It contains organs including the heart ,
Upload file lungs , and thymus gland, as well as muscles and various
other internal structures. Many diseases may affect the
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chest, and one of the most common symptoms is chest
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pain.
Related changes X-ray image of the chest showing the internal
Special pages anatomy of the rib cage, lungs and heart as well
Contents []
Permanent link as the inferior thoracic border–made up of the
1 Etymology diaphragm.
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Cite this page 2 Human thorax
Wikidata item 2.1 Structure
2.1.1 Contents
Print/export 2.1.2 The chest
Download as PDF 2.1.3 Bones
Printable version 2.1.4 Anatomical landmarks
2.2 Clinical significance
In other projects
2.2.1 Injury
Wikimedia Commons 2.2.2 Pain
2.2.2.1 Non-cardiac causes of chest
Languages
pain
Deutsch 2.2.3 Atelectasis
Español
2.2.4 Pneumothorax
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3 Other animals
Hrvatski
3.1 In tetrapods
Italiano
3.2 In arthropods
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Plattdüütsch 4 Human thorax images
Русский 5 See also
Türkçe 6 References

84 more 7 External links

Surface projections of the organs of the trunk,
Edit links with the thorax or chest region seen stretching
 down to approximately the end of the oblique
Etymology ​[ edit ] lung fissure anteriorly, but more deeply its lower
limit rather corresponds to the upper border of
The word thorax comes from the Greek θώραξ thorax
the liver.
"breastplate , cuirass , corslet "[3] via Latin: thorax.[4]
Details
Identifiers
Human thorax ​[ edit ]
Latin thorax

Structure ​[ edit ] Greek θώραξ

TA98 A01.1.00.014
In humans and other hominids , the thorax is the chest
TA2 125
region of the body between the neck and the abdomen ,
FMA 9576
along with its internal organs and other contents. It is
Anatomical terminology
mostly protected and supported by the rib cage , spine ,
[edit on Wikidata]
and shoulder girdle .

Contents ​[ edit ]
Main article: Thoracic cavity

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
An X-ray of a human chest area, with
shoulder socket containing the upper part of the humerus , the some structures labeled
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 ]

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 ]
High-resolution computed
Injury to the chest (also referred to as chest trauma, thoracic tomographs of a normal thorax, taken in
injury, or thoracic trauma) results in up to ¼ of all deaths due the axial, coronal and sagittal planes,
to trauma in the United States.[5] respectively.
Click here to scroll through the image
The major pathophysiologies encountered in blunt chest stacks.
trauma involve derangements in the flow of air, blood, or both This type of investigation can be used
for detecting both acute and chronic
in combination. Sepsis due to leakage of alimentary tract
changes in the lung parenchyma.
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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] 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 ]

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 ,
 The trilobite body is divided into three In the worker ant, the abdomen consists of the
major sections, a cephalon with eyes, propodeum fused to the thorax and the metasoma,
mouthparts and sensory organs such as itself divided into the narrow petiole and bulbous
antennae, a thorax of multiple similar gaster.
segments (that in some species allowed
them to roll up into a ball), and a
pygidium, or tail section.

crustaceans , and the extinct trilobites , the thorax is one of the three main divisions 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.

Human thorax images ​[ edit ]

Volume rendering of a high resolution Thorax. Anterior view.

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. Clearly visible thorax of an artistic

gymnast.

See also ​[ edit ]

This article uses anatomical terminology.

Pectus carinatum
Pectus excavatum
Thoracic cavity
Cardiothoracic surgery

References ​[ edit ]

1. ^ "thorax " at Dorland's Medical Dictionary

2. ^ Thorax at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
3. ^ θώραξ , Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital
Library
4. ^ "thorax, n.". Oxford English Dictionary . Oxford University Press.
5. ^ Shahani, Rohit, MD. (2005). Penetrating Chest Trauma . eMedicine. Retrieved 2005-02-05.
6. ^ Chest Diseases Retrieved on 2010-1-26
7. ^ Atelectasis Lung and Airway Disorders. Retrieved on 2010-1-26
8. ^ Pleurisy Lung Diseases. Retrieved on 2010-1-26

External links ​[ edit ]

Sam Gon III. "A guide to the Orders of Trilobites" . Look up thorax in
Retrieved August 23, 2005. Wiktionary, the free
dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has

media related to Human
thorax.

v·t·e Human regional anatomy [show]

v·t·e Muscles of the thorax and back [show]

v·t·e Anatomy of the lymphatic system [show]

 Authority control BALaT: 125547 · GND: 4146759-0 · NDL: 00567093 · TA98: A01.1.00.014

Categories : Thorax (human anatomy) Animal anatomy Trilobite anatomy

This page was last edited on 21 October 2020, at 04:18 (UTC).

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