thoracic cavity

noun

plural thoracic cavities

: the cavity of the thorax (see thorax sense 1) that is bounded below by the diaphragm, is enclosed by the sternum, ribs, and thoracic vertebrae, and that contains the heart and lungs

… an inflammation of the thoracic cavity which feels like a burning stiffness of the muscles …

—Harold Brodky

Examples of thoracic cavity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over several pages, Ramberg drew and inventively redrew the thoracic cavity of the agonized body in Italian crucifixions, making the depression framed by the ribcage into a positive, phallic form. —Sue Taylor, ARTnews.com, 31 July 2024

The bone led to a bacterial infection in his thoracic cavity and lingering medical problems, including difficulty breathing. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 25 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

thoracic cavity

noun

: the cavity of the thorax (see thorax sense 1a) that is bounded below by the diaphragm, is enclosed by the sternum, ribs, and thoracic vertebrae, and that contains the heart and lungs