Quick Answer: The model of human cranial cavity, head, neck and thorax is an anatomical model covering the upper body from the skull to the chest, with the cranial cavity shown. This head, neck and thorax model is used to trace the brain, the air and food passages, the major neck vessels and the heart and lungs as one continuous region.
From Skull to Chest in One Model
Most anatomy models treat the head, the neck or the chest in isolation. A model spanning the cranial cavity, neck and thorax lets students follow structures that cross those boundaries. The trachea can be traced from the larynx down into the chest, where it divides into the main bronchi; the oesophagus runs behind it towards the diaphragm; and the common carotid arteries and internal jugular veins can be followed from the chest up to the base of the skull.
The cranial cavity is the space inside the skull that holds the brain, lined by the meninges and stepped on its floor into anterior, middle and posterior fossae. Showing it open on the same model as the neck makes clear how the brain’s blood supply arrives: the internal carotid arteries enter through the skull base, and the vertebral arteries climb through openings in the neck vertebrae before joining beneath the brain.
In the chest, models of this kind show the heart in the mediastinum between the lungs, with the great vessels leaving it. The title does not state whether organs are removable, whether nerves such as the vagus and phrenic are shown, or the size, and because the name is general the form supplied should be confirmed.
Specifications
| Model of | Human head with opened cranial cavity, neck and thorax |
| Regions covered | Cranial cavity, face and neck, chest |
| Typical structures | Brain, airway, oesophagus, neck vessels, heart and lungs |
| Users | Medical, nursing, paramedic and anatomy students |
| Parts, removable organs and size | Confirm at enquiry |
Applications
- Tracing the airway and food passage from the mouth and nose down into the chest
- Following the carotid and vertebral arteries to the brain in neuroanatomy lessons
- Showing the course of the vagus and phrenic nerves from the neck into the thorax
- Nursing and paramedic teaching on the neck vessels, the airway and the chest organs together
Care & Handling
- Carry the head, neck and thorax model with both hands under its base, so the narrower neck region never has to bear the weight of the head.
- If organs lift out, return each one to its place after class and check none are missing before storage.
- Clean with a soft dry or barely damp cloth, keeping alcohol and solvents off painted vessels and nerves.
Why Choose LabEquip
Medical and nursing colleges choose regional models like this one when a course moves from organ-by-organ study to how the regions connect. It is listed in LabEquip’s biology lab products, with the human thoracic organs model available for chest-only teaching; questions can go through the contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cranial cavity?
It is the space inside the skull that contains the brain, its protective membranes (the meninges), blood vessels and the roots of the cranial nerves. Its floor is stepped into anterior, middle and posterior fossae, each holding a different part of the brain.
How does blood reach the brain?
Two pairs of arteries supply it. The internal carotids ascend in the neck and pass through the skull base, while the vertebral arteries rise through openings in the cervical vertebrae and unite as the basilar artery. Branches from both systems connect in an arterial ring under the brain, the circle of Willis.
Why study the head, neck and chest together?
Many structures pass from one region to the next: the trachea, the oesophagus, the major vessels and the vagus and phrenic nerves. A continuous model shows these routes directly, which separate regional models cannot do.
What does the phrenic nerve do?
It supplies the diaphragm, the main muscle of breathing. It arises from spinal nerves C3 to C5 in the neck and runs down through the chest, which is why an injury high in the neck can stop a person breathing without support.
Where does the oesophagus run?
It begins at the lower end of the pharynx in the neck, runs down behind the trachea and then behind the heart through the chest, and passes through the diaphragm to reach the stomach. On the model it lies behind the airway throughout.
Who uses this model?
Medical, nursing and paramedic colleges and university anatomy departments. At school level a simpler thoracic or head model is usually enough, while this regional model suits courses that teach airway management and the blood supply of the head.
Last Updated: September 2026
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