Thorax

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/thorax

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Thorax (from Greek 'thōrax', meaning 'breastplate' or 'chest')
2. What is the skeletal components?12 thoracic vertebrae, 24 ribs, sternum (manubrium, body, xiphoid process)
3. What is the thorax and why is it important?The thorax is the chest area between your neck and tummy. It protects your heart and lungs and helps you breathe.
4. How do the ribs protect our organs?The ribs form a strong cage around the heart and lungs. They keep these organs safe while still letting the chest move when you breathe.

Costovertebral Joints: The articulations between the ribs and the thoracic vertebrae.
Intrapleural Pressure: The pressure within the pleural cavity, between the lungs and the chest wall.
Elastic Recoil: The tendency of tissues to return to their original shape after being stretched or compressed.