Anatomy: Body Cavities and Body Regions for Students

Axial

Refers to the central part of the body, including the head, neck, and trunk

Appendicular

Refers to the limbs and the structures attached to them, including the arms, legs, shoulders, and hips

Cranial cavity

Body cavity inside the skull that contains the brain

Vertebral (spinal) cavity

Body cavity within the vertebral column that contains the spinal cord

Thoracic cavity

Chest cavity that contains the heart, lungs, trachea, esophagus, and major blood vessels

Pleural cavities

Spaces within the thoracic cavity that each contain a lung

Pericardial cavity

Space within the thoracic cavity that contains the heart

Abdominal cavity

Cavity that contains the stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, small intestine, and most of the large intestine

Pelvic cavity

Cavity that contains the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum

Dorsal body cavity

Posterior body cavity that contains the cranial and vertebral cavities

Ventral body cavity

Anterior body cavity that contains the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

Abdominopelvic cavity

Body cavity below the diaphragm that includes the abdominal and pelvic cavities