# Thoracic Cavity --- The **thoracic cavity** is a [[body cavity]] that is surrounded by the [[thoracic cage|rib cage]], and is where the [[lungs]], [[heart]], [[respiratory tracts|trachea]] and [[thymus]] live. It is separated from the [[abdominopelvic cavity]] by the [[diaphragm]]. ![[thoracic cavity anterior view.png]] The throacic cavity can be subdivided into three smaller cavities: the mediastinum, and two plurel cavities on either side of the mediastinum. The **mediastinum**, (media-sty-num) is the sort of negative-space that lives in between the lungs, and contains the [[heart]], the [[thymus]], the [[esophagus]], the [[respiratory tracts|trachea]] and some [[lymph node|lymph nodes]] and the great [[blood vessels#The Great Vessels|blood vessels]] that connect to the heart. The **pleural cavities** are two seperate cavities that taken up by the two [[pleura]], the serous membranes that surround each lung. ![[thoracic cavity superior view.png]] ___