What is Thoracic Surgery? Thoracic surgery is the practice of medicine directed toward the surgical treatment of diseases of the chest, including lung cancer, benign and infectious problems of the lung or pleura, tracheal/bronchial tumors, chest wall growths including but not limited to mesothelioma, lymph node diagnosis in conditions such as sarcoid, lymphoma, interstitial lung disease, emphysema, esophageal swallowing problems, esophageal cancer and gastroesophageal reflux.
The word thoracic is the adjective form of the noun "thorax," which refers to the area of the human body located between the neck and abdomen.
Lungs – The Basics
Your lungs are a pair of large organs in your chest. They are part of your respiratory system. Air enters your body through your nose or mouth. It passes through your windpipe (trachea) and through each bronchus, and goes into your lungs.
When you breathe in, your lungs expand with air. This is how your body gets oxygen.
When you breathe out, air goes out of your lungs. This is how your body gets rid of carbon dioxide.
Your right lung has three parts (lobes). Your left lung is smaller and has two lobes.
A thin tissue (the pleura) covers the lungs and lines the inside of the chest. Between the two layers of the pleura is a very small amount of fluid (pleural fluid). Normally, this fluid does not build up.