A.3 Body Cavities & Membranes

What are the two dorsal body cavities?

Cranial (brain) & Vertebral (spinal cord), both lined by meninges.

What cavity contains the lungs?

 Pleural cavities

What cavity contains the heart?

Pericardial cavity.

What membrane surrounds abdominal organs?

 Peritoneum (visceral & parietal layers).

What does serous fluid do?

Reduces friction between visceral & parietal layers.

 Which organs are in the abdominal cavity?

intestines, stomach, liver, spleen, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix.

Which organs are in the pelvic cavity?

Bladder, rectum, urethra, reproductive organs

Single layer

viscera

Double layer

visceral layer (inner) & parietal layer (outer)

Cranial cavity

 brain (meninges)

Vertebral canal

spinal cord (meninges)

Mediastinum

region between lungs, contains heart, great vessels, esophagus, trachea, thymus

Heart

 pericardial cavity

Visceral pericardium

inner

Parietal pericardium

outer

Pericardial fluid

between layers

Lungs

two pleural cavities

Visceral pleura

inner

Parietal pleura

outer

Pleural fluid

between layers

Abdominal cavity

intestines, stomach, liver, spleen, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix

Pelvic cavity

 bladder, rectum, urethra, reproductive organs

Peritoneum

(serous membrane)

Visceral peritoneum

inner

Parietal peritoneum

outer

Peritoneal cavity

 w/ fluid

What membranes surround the lungs?

Pleura (visceral pleura on lungs, parietal pleura on chest wall).

Visceral layer

covers organ

Parietal layer

 lines cavity

Serous fluid

 between layers

Cranial cavity

brain (meninges)

Vertebral canal

spinal cord (meninges)

Thoracic cavity

lungs (pleura), heart (pericardium), mediastinum

Abdominopelvic cavity

abdominal + pelvic, lined with peritoneum