Which cavity includes the heart, trachea, great vessels and some other structures?

Which cavity includes the heart, trachea, great vessels and some other structures?

• A. Thoracic Cavity
• B. Mediastinum cavity
• C. Pleura cavity
• D. Abdominal Cavity

Answer: (B)

The central compartment inside the chest that houses the heart, trachea, great vessels, and other structures is the mediastinum. The heart sits in its own pericardial cavity, which is inside the mediastinum, and the trachea and major vessels run through this same central region. The thoracic cavity includes the mediastinum plus the two pleural cavities around the lungs, while the pleural cavities themselves do not contain the heart or trachea. The abdominal cavity is below the diaphragm. So, the best choice is the mediastinum.

The central compartment inside the chest that houses the heart, trachea, great vessels, and other structures is the mediastinum. The heart sits in its own pericardial cavity, which is inside the mediastinum, and the trachea and major vessels run through this same central region. The thoracic cavity includes the mediastinum plus the two pleural cavities around the lungs, while the pleural cavities themselves do not contain the heart or trachea. The abdominal cavity is below the diaphragm. So, the best choice is the mediastinum.