The chest is also called the thorax.

The thoracic (chest) cavity is the body cavity located between the neck and the diaphragm. It is surrounded by the rib cage (figure 3-1).

The thoracic cavity contains the lungs, the heart, and many major blood vessels. Any injury to the chest can be serious. A penetrating object, for example, can puncture a lung, an artery or vein, or the heart itself.