The
thoracic cavity (or
chest cavity) is the
chamber of the body of vertebrates that is protected by the
thoracic wall (
rib cage and associated skin, muscle, and
fascia). The central compartment of the thoracic cavity is the
mediastinum. There are two openings of the thoracic cavity, a superior thoracic aperture known as the
thoracic inlet and a lower inferior thoracic aperture known as the
thoracic outlet.