This is a view of the thoracic cavity looking up from underneath the rib cage, you can see the lungs which are white colored, in a live animal they would be a deep red from the blood flow moving through them, you can also see the heart and where some of the pericardium is peeled back. The pericardium is a thin membrane layer that helps cover the heart and there was a thin layer of mucous between the heart and the membrane to reduce friction from the heart against surround tissues and chest walls. You will notice that the lungs are larger on the right side, this is because the heart is seated to the left and ther lungs on the left side are smaller to accomodate the heart in the chest cavity. Although it is not labeled you can also see the hiatus in the center of the lower lung region which allows the esophogus, veins, and arteries to pass though the thoarcic cavity to the rest of the body.

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