Final answer:
The lungs are located in the thoracic cavity, which is surrounded and protected by the rib muscles and bound by the chest wall.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lungs are located in the thoracic cavity. Mammalian lungs are surrounded and protected by the rib muscles and bound by the chest wall. The bottom of the lungs is contained by the diaphragm, a skeletal muscle that facilitates breathing. The thoracic cavity is the superior subdivision of the anterior (ventral) cavity and is enclosed by the rib cage.