Organs of the Thorax

Overview

The thorax contains key organs involved in respiration, immunity and endocrine function. This section introduces these structures and outlines their functional roles and anatomical relationships within the thoracic cavity.

Key Structures

Topics include the thymus gland, mammary glands, lungs, tracheobronchial tree and pleurae. Each article provides a clear explanation of structure, function and key anatomical details.

Clinical Relevance and Learning Focus

Knowledge of thoracic organ anatomy is fundamental for assessing respiratory conditions, thoracic tumours, breast pathology and pleural disease. This section supports clinical reasoning and interpretation of imaging.

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Anatomical illustration of the thymus gland located in the superior mediastinum.

The Thymus Gland

The Breasts

Posterior view of the heart illustrating the venous drainage system.

The Heart

  • The Valves of the Heart
  • The Chambers of the Heart
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The Lungs

Diagram illustrating the trachea and bronchial divisions, highlighting the tracheobronchial tree anatomy.

The Tracheobronchial Tree

Diagram illustrating the parts of the parietal pleurae.

The Pleurae

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Anatomical Terminology

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Lateral view of the neck highlighting the digastric, mylohyoid, and stylohyoid suprahyoid muscles.
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Digastric

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Illustration depicting the deep muscles of the gluteal region, including the quadratus femoris, obturator internus, piriformis, and gemelli muscles.
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Piriformis

by Dr Oliver Jones