thoracic cavity, also called chest cavity, the second largest hollow space of the body. It is enclosed by the ribs, the vertebral column, and the sternum, or breastbone, and is separated from the abdominal cavity (the body's largest hollow space) by a muscular and membranous partition, the diaphragm.

What are the 3 regions of the thoracic cavity?

The thoracic cavity is divided into three main regions: (1) the right pleural cavity, (2) the left pleural cavity (the pleural cavities contain the lungs), and (3) the mediastinum, a midline structure that separates the right and left pleural cavities.

What are the layers of the thoracic cavity?

The chest wall has 10 layers, namely (from superficial to deep) skin (epidermis and dermis), superficial fascia, deep fascia and the invested extrinsic muscles (from the upper limbs), intrinsic muscles associated with the ribs (three layers of intercostal muscles), endothoracic fascia and parietal pleura.