Human Thoracic Organs Model

Quick Answer: The human thoracic organs model shows the contents of the chest in their natural positions: the two lungs, the heart between them, the trachea and main bronchi and the great vessels. A thoracic organs model is used in anatomy, nursing and paramedic teaching to explain how the heart and lungs fit together inside the rib cage.

Heart and Lungs in Their Positions

Separate heart and lung models teach each organ well, but they do not show how the organs pack together. In the chest, the lungs occupy the two pleural cavities, and the space between them, the mediastinum, holds the heart in its pericardial sac, the trachea, the oesophagus behind it, the great vessels and, especially in children, the thymus. The heart lies with its apex pointing down and to the left, which is why the left lung is smaller and notched.

Seeing the organs together makes the great vessels meaningful: the aortic arch curving over the left main bronchus, the pulmonary trunk dividing to carry blood to each lung, and the pulmonary veins returning oxygenated blood to the left atrium. Nursing and paramedic students also use a model like this to picture where the heart and lung lobes lie beneath the chest wall before they learn to listen with a stethoscope.

The title does not list which structures are removable or whether the diaphragm, oesophagus and thymus are included. For the internal chambers and valves of the heart, the separate human heart model gives more detail.

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Lift the thoracic organs model by its base; the trachea and vessels are thin and carry weight poorly.
• Refit any removable lung or heart in its original position and orientation.
• Dust with a soft brush, especially around the vessels at the top of the heart.

Applications

• Teaching the mediastinum and the relationship of the heart to the lungs
• Explaining the pulmonary and systemic circulations using the great vessels
• Relating surface landmarks to the heart and lung lobes before practising auscultation
• First-aid and paramedic lessons on chest injuries and on why chest compressions are placed over the lower half of the sternum

Why Choose LabEquip

Anatomy departments and nursing or paramedic training centres use a thoracic model to bridge separate heart and lung lessons. LabEquip offers it in its biology lab products together with the human respiratory system model; ask through the contact page which parts come out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which structures lie in the mediastinum?

The mediastinum is the space between the two lungs. It holds the heart inside its pericardial sac, the aorta and other great vessels, the trachea and oesophagus, the thymus, and numerous nerves and lymph nodes.

Why is the left lung smaller than the right?

The heart is tilted towards the left side of the chest, so the left lung has less room. It has two lobes instead of three and a cardiac notch in its front border.

Which vessels leave the heart?

The aorta carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body, and the pulmonary trunk carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. The venae cavae and pulmonary veins bring blood back to the heart.

What is the pleura?

The pleura is a double membrane around each lung. A thin film of fluid between its layers lets the lungs slide smoothly and holds them against the chest wall during breathing.

Where is the thymus?

The thymus lies in the upper front part of the mediastinum, behind the sternum. It is large in childhood, when it trains T lymphocytes, and gradually shrinks and is replaced by fat after puberty.

Can this model be used for teaching auscultation?

It helps students picture where the heart valves and lung lobes lie beneath the chest wall before they practise with a stethoscope. It does not replace practice on a manikin or a volunteer.

Last Updated: September 2026