In the middle of the thoracic cavity is a region occupied by the heart, great vessels, thymus, esophagus, and trachea called the
A) pleural space.
B) pericardial space.
C) mediastinum.
D) cardiac notch.
E) ventral cavity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The region in the middle of the thoracic cavity that contains the heart, great vessels, thymus, esophagus, and trachea is called the mediastinum. Therefore, the best choice is C. The pleural space refers to the space between the lungs and the inner chest wall, while the pericardial space refers to the space between the layers of the pericardium that surrounds the heart. The cardiac notch is a feature of the left lung where it is concave to accommodate the heart. The ventral cavity refers to the cavity that contains the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

In the Middle of the Thoracic Cavity Is a Region