thoracic cage
nounUK /θɔːˈræsɪk keɪdʒ/
US /θɔːˈræsɪk keɪdʒ/
The bony frame in your chest that keeps your heart and lungs safe.
The doctor explained that the thoracic cage protects the lungs and heart.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The skeletal structure formed by the ribs, sternum, and thoracic vertebrae that encloses the chest cavity.
In anatomy class we studied how the thoracic cage expands during breathing.
3. The protective enclosure of bones around the thoracic organs, sometimes used figuratively for a person's chest area.
A heavy blow to the thoracic cage can make breathing painful.
4. The framework of ribs and associated bones that supports the upper body and aids respiration.
The thoracic cage moves slightly with each breath you take.