Body Cavities and Serous Membranes

Vocabulary flashcards covering major body cavities and serous membranes.

Dorsal body cavity

Posterior body cavity that contains the cranial and vertebral (spinal) cavities.

Cranial cavity

Dorsal body cavity that houses the brain.

Vertebral (spinal) cavity

Dorsal body cavity that houses the spinal cord.

Ventral body cavity

Anterior body cavity that contains the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities; lined with serous membranes.

Thoracic cavity

Ventral cavity containing the heart and lungs; subdivided into pleural and pericardial cavities.

Pleural cavities

Two lateral thoracic cavities that surround the lungs.

Pericardial cavity

Serous cavity within the mediastinum that surrounds the heart.

Abdominal cavity

Ventral cavity that contains stomach, liver, intestines, and other digestive organs.

Pelvic cavity

Ventral cavity that houses reproductive organs, bladder, and parts of the urinary tract.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Continuous cavity formed by the abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Parietal serous membrane

Layer that lines the walls of a body cavity.

Visceral serous membrane

Layer that covers an organ within a cavity.

Serous cavity

Potential space between parietal and visceral serous membranes containing serous fluid.