Normal Adult Chest – Male, 49 Years

The Human Chest

The chest, also called the thoracic cavity or thorax, contains the lungs, the tracheobronchial tree and the heart. It is located between the neck and the abdomen and enclosed by the ribs, the spine and the sternum. 

Inside the chest, the heart circulates blood from around the body to the lungs, where the blood receives oxygen from capillaries. Oxygen-rich blood then leaves the lungs and goes back to the heart. From there it’s transported to major arteries.

The circulatory system does most of its work inside the chest. Through intricate networks of arteries and veins, the circulatory system delivers oxygenated blood and important nutrients throughout the body.

Each breath pulls oxygen into the lungs to supply the body with oxygenated blood. Each exhale expels carbon dioxide, a waste gas produced by the body’s functioning.

Parts of the Chest

There are three main parts of the thoracic cavity:

• Right pleural cavity, located on the right side of the chest.
• Left pleural cavity, located on the left side of the chest.
• Mediastinum, located in the middle of the chest.

The chest holds many important organs and other structures for breathing, circulation, digestion and other essential body functions, including:

• Esophagus, the tube between your mouth and stomach
• Lungs, trachea and bronchi, the tubes that carry air to your lungs
• Heart and large blood vessels
• Thymus, a gland that's part of your immune system
• Vagus nerve