Body Cavities and Membranes

Dorsal cavity / Posterior aspect

contains the cranial cavity and the vertebral canal; brain and spinal cord

Cranial cavity

contains the brain

Vertebral canal

contains the spinal cord

Ventral cavity

contains the thoracic cavity, the abdominopelvic cavity and diaphragm

Thoracic cavity

contains two pleural cavities, the mediastinum cavity & the pericardium cavity

Mediastinum

central compartment of the thoracic cavity. It contains the heart, the great vessels of the heart, esophagus, trachea, phrenic nerve, cardiac nerve, thoracic duct, thymus, and lymph nodes of the central chest.

Pericardial cavity

a fluid-filled space that surrounds the heart

Pleural cavity

space between the pleural membranes and surrounding each lung

Diaphragm

a muscular partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities

Abdominolpelvic cavity

contains the abdominal and pelvic cavities

Abdominal cavity

contains stomach, kidney, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, small intestine, most of the large intestine, and appendix

Pelvic cavity

contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum

Serous membranes

Form thin layers around organs, secrete lubricating fluid into space between layers, reduce friction between organs

parietal pericardium

is the outermost layer and forms the sac around the heart.

visceral pericardium

innermost layer of the serous membrane around the heart, forms the heart's external surface

parietal pleura

Outer surface of the pleura, lines the internal surface of the thoracic wall

visceral pleura

covers the external surface of each lung

parietal peritoneum

the serous membrane lining the abdominal cavity

visceral peritoneum

the serous membrane that covers the organs of the abdominal cavity