Body Cavities and Anatomical Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering the major anatomical cavities of the human body based on lateral and anterior views.

Dorsal body cavity

A body cavity that contains both the cranial cavity and the vertebral cavity.

Cranial cavity

A subdivision of the dorsal body cavity situated in the head.

Vertebral cavity

A subdivision of the dorsal body cavity that houses the spinal cord.

Thoracic cavity

The superior portion of the ventral body cavity containing the mediastinum, pleural cavity, and pericardial cavity.

Superior mediastinum

A region within the thoracic cavity located above the pericardial cavity.

Pleural cavity

A subdivision of the thoracic cavity.

Pericardial cavity

A cavity located within the mediastinum of the thoracic cavity.

Diaphragm

The muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.

Ventral body cavity

A large anterior cavity that includes both the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Abdominopelvic cavity

A ventral cavity consisting of the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity.

Abdominal cavity

The superior region of the abdominopelvic cavity.

Pelvic cavity

The inferior region of the abdominopelvic cavity.