Body Cavities and Membranes

Consists of the cranial & vertebral cavity

Dorsal Cavity

Consists of the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities

Ventral Cavity

Contains the brain

Cranial Cavity

Contains the vertebrae

Vertebral Cavity

Contains Heart & Lungs

Thoracic Cavity

Contains digestive organs, kidneys, and ureters

Abdominal Cavity

Contains urinary bladder, internal reproductive organs, and the rectum

Pelvic Cavity

Consists of abdominal and pelvic cavities (they don’t have a division w/in the body)

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Median compartment w/in thoracic cavity; contains heart (only visible from frontal view)

Mediastinum

Outermost layer of serous membrane around heart

Parietal Pericardium

Narrow, fluid-filled space between parietal and visceral layers of serous membrane

Pericardial Cavity

Innermost layer of serous membrane around heart (layer in contact w/ heart)

Visceral pericardium

Narrow, fluid-filled space between parietal and visceral layers

Pleural Cavity

Outermost layer of the serous membrane around the lungs

Parietal Pleura

Innermost layer of serous membrane around lungs

Visceral pleura

Narrow, fluid-filled space between parietal and visceral layers

Peritoneal Cavity

Outermost layer of serous membrane that lines abdominopelvic cavity

Parietal Peritoneum

Innermost layer of serous membrane lining the abdominopelvic cavity

Visceral Peritoneum

Double-layered, fluid-filled sacs that surround organs

Serous Membrane