01 / Location & anatomical relationships
Between your neck and the bottom of your rib cage.
02 / Structure & organization
The thorax is bounded by the ribs, sternum, thoracic vertebrae and diaphragm. The lungs occupy pleural compartments, while the mediastinum between them contains the heart, major vessels, trachea and esophagus.
03 / Function
Your ribs help protect the heart and lungs inside it.
04 / Mechanism
The ribs and breastbone form a protective, movable frame. Muscles between the ribs help change the size of the chest during breathing. The heart sits between the lungs, with the diaphragm forming the floor below them.
Part of a bigger picture
The chest belongs in our torso & skin collection. Explore the nearby parts to see how this area of the body fits together.
Explore torso & skin →FOR DEEPER STUDY
Connect structure with function
Chest movement changes thoracic volume during breathing. The chest wall is musculoskeletal; the organs within it belong to several systems with distinct coverings and spaces.
Check your understanding
Locate the chest in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.