There are several synonyms for the word "ribcage," including thorax, chest, rib cage, and chest cavity. The thorax and chest refer to the upper part of the body between the neck and abdomen that contains the heart, lungs, and other organs protected by the rib cage. The rib cage is the bony structure that surrounds the organs of the thorax and helps to protect them from injury. The chest cavity refers to the space within the thorax that contains the organs and is surrounded by the rib cage. All of these synonyms are commonly used to describe the area of the body that contains the ribs and protects the vital organs in the chest.