The Heart is Contained Within the ________ Cavity,whereas the Lungs

Question

The heart is contained within the ________ cavity,whereas the lungs are in the ________ cavities.
A) thoracic; pericardial
B) mediastinum; pleural
C) pericardial; pleural
D) peritoneal; pleural

Accepted Answer

The heart is contained within the pericardial cavity, which is a subdivision of the thoracic cavity. The lungs are located in the pleural cavities, which are also subdivisions of the thoracic cavity. The mediastinum is a central compartment within the thoracic cavity that contains the heart, great vessels, and other structures. Therefore, option C is the correct choice as it states that the heart is within the pericardial cavity (which is part of the thoracic cavity) and the lungs are within the pleural cavities (also part of the thoracic cavity). Options A and B are partially correct as they correctly identify the location of the heart and lungs but use incorrect terminology for the subdivisions of the thoracic cavity. Option D is incorrect as it describes a different cavity (the peritoneal cavity, which is in the abdominal region) and not the thoracic cavity where the heart and lungs are located.