Lateral & Anterior View Body Cavities

Cranial cavity

Space inside the skull that contains the brain

Dorsal body cavity

Body cavity that contains the cranial and vertebral cavities

Vertebral cavity

Space inside the vertebral column that contains the spinal cord

Thoracic cavity

Chest cavity located above the diaphragm

Diaphragm

Muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity

Abdominopelvic cavity

Body cavity below the diaphragm that contains the abdominal and pelvic cavities

Abdominal cavity

Space containing many digestive organs

Pelvic cavity

Space containing the urinary bladder reproductive organs and lower digestive organs

Ventral body cavity

Body cavity that contains the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

Superior mediastinum

Upper part of the mediastinum containing structures such as the heart great vessels trachea and esophagus

Pleural cavity

Space surrounding each lung

Pericardial cavity within the mediastinum

Space surrounding the heart within the mediastinum