The centrally located area outside of and between the lungs which contains the heart and its blood vessels as well as the trachea, esophagus, bronchial tubes, thymus gland, and lymph nodes is known as the

It is called the Mediastinum. It is a membranous broad compartment of the thoracic cavity normally between body cavities or two parts of an organ for example between the lungs.. It contains the heart and together with the vessels, the esophagus, phrenic and cardiac nerves, trachea, thymus and the lymph nodes of the central chest.