Body Cavities and Subdivisions

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing the two main body cavities (dorsal and ventral) and their respective subdivisions, contents, and anatomical structures based on the lecture notes.

Dorsal Cavity

Body cavity that protects the delicate/fragile nervous system organs and consists of two subdivisions: cranial and vertebral.

Cranial Cavity

A subdivision of the dorsal cavity that extends through the skull and encloses the brain.

Vertebral Cavity

A subdivision of the dorsal cavity that encloses the spinal cord.

Ventral Cavity

Body cavity containing internal organs, called viscera, which is subdivided into the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Viscera

The internal organs located within a body cavity.

Thoracic Cavity

A subdivision of the ventral cavity containing the pleural cavities, pericardial cavity/mediastinum, and superior mediastinum.

Pleural Cavity

A cavity within the thoracic cavity, each holding a lung.

Pericardial Cavity

A cavity/mediastinum within the thoracic cavity that holds the heart.

Superior Mediastinum

A cavity within the thoracic cavity that surrounds all the remaining thoracic organs, including the esophagus and trachea.

Diaphragm

The muscle/structure that separates the thoracic cavity and abdominal cavity.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

A subdivision of the ventral cavity separated from the thoracic cavity by the diaphragm, consisting of the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity.

Abdominal Cavity

A subdivision of the abdominopelvic cavity containing the stomach, spleen, liver, intestines, and other organs.

Pelvic Cavity

A subdivision of the abdominopelvic cavity located within the bony pelvis, containing the bladder, some reproductive organs, and the rectum.