chest wall
Torso's bony cage
The chest wall is the structure surrounding the thoracic cavity—ribs, sternum, spine, and the muscles and tissues connecting them.
It protects the heart and lungs while expanding and contracting during breathing.
Medical contexts reference it when describing injuries, tumors, or pain: The X-ray showed a chest wall mass.
Central body cavity
- sternumFlat chest bone
- ribsThoracic bone set
- clavicleHorizontal bone above ribs
- pectoralisAnterior thoracic muscle
intercostal · serratus · latissimus · diaphragm · scapula · costal · cartilage · fascia
Pulmonary gas exchange
- inhaleDraw air in
- exhaleExpel breath outward
- ventilationCirculation of fresh air
- pulmonaryOf the lungs
bronchial · alveoli · oxygenation · gas exchange · inspiration · expiration · dyspnea · airflow
Protective combat covering
- breastplateMetal torso protection
- cuirassTorso-protecting plate armor
- vestSleeveless upper-body garment
- bulletproofResistant to gunfire
mail · padding · guard · shield · protective · plate · kevlar · ballistic
Split in hard material
- contusionTissue damage beneath skin
- pneumothoraxAir in pleural space
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- painBodily or emotional distress
tenderness · deformity · crepitus · bruising · injury · inflammation · tumor · mass
thorax
Central body cavity
pectoralis · intercostal · serratus · latissimus · diaphragm · scapula · costal · cartilage · fascia · axilla
breathing
Pulmonary gas exchange
- inhaleDraw air in
- exhaleExpel breath outward
- ventilationCirculation of fresh air
pulmonary · bronchial · alveoli · oxygenation · gas exchange · inspiration · expiration · dyspnea · airflow · respiratory rate
armor
Protective combat covering
- breastplateMetal torso protection
- cuirassTorso-protecting plate armor
- vestSleeveless upper-body garment
bulletproof · mail · padding · guard · shield · protective · plate · kevlar · ballistic · impact
fracture
Split in hard material
- contusionTissue damage beneath skin
- pneumothoraxAir in pleural space
- traumaLasting psychological wound
pain · tenderness · deformity · crepitus · bruising · injury · inflammation · tumor · mass · metastasis
- thoraxthorax, ribcage, sternum, breastbone, ribs
- respiratory systemlungs, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, airways
- breathingbreathing, inhalation, breath, exhalation, breathe
- breastsbreast, nipple, nipples, areola, mammary gland