Thoracic wall
Paries thoracis
Definition
The thoracic wall includes the bony framework (ribs, sternum, vertebrae), the intercostal muscles, and the overlying soft tissues, including the skin and subcutaneous tissueues. It serves to protect the intrathoracic organs (such as the heart and lungs), provides attachment points for muscles involved in respiration, and maintains the structural integrity necessary for effective ventilation.
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