Editing Thoracic cavity (section)

==Structure==
Structures within the thoracic cavity include:
* structures of the [[cardiovascular system]], including the [[heart]] and '''great vessels''', which include the thoracic [[aorta]], the [[pulmonary artery]] and all its branches, the [[superior vena cava|superior]] and [[inferior vena cava]], the [[pulmonary veins]], and the [[azygos vein]]
* structures of the [[respiratory system]], including the [[Thoracic diaphragm|diaphragm]], [[Vertebrate trachea|trachea]], [[bronchi]] and [[lungs]]<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1136/emj.2009.073486 |pmid=20558490 |title=Chest wall necrosis and empyema resulting from attempting suicide by injection of petroleum into the pleural cavity |journal=Emergency Medicine Journal |volume=27 |issue=8 |pages=616–8 |year=2010 |last1=Eskandarlou |first1=M. |last2=Moaddab |first2=A. H. |s2cid=206938595 }}</ref>
* structures of the [[digestive system]], including the [[esophagus]],
* [[endocrine gland]]s, including the [[thymus gland]],
* structures of the [[nervous system]] including the paired [[vagus]] nerves, and the paired [[sympathetic chain]]s,
* [[lymphatic]]s including the [[thoracic duct]].

It contains three potential spaces lined with [[mesothelium]]: the paired [[pleural cavity|pleural cavities]] and the [[pericardium|pericardial cavity]]. The [[mediastinum]] comprises those organs which lie in the centre of the chest between the lungs. The cavity also contains two openings one at the top, the superior thoracic aperture also called the [[thoracic inlet]], and a lower [[inferior thoracic aperture]] which is much larger than the inlet.