Body Cavities and Membranes

Dorsal body cavity

contains the cranial cavity and vertebral cavity

Cranial cavity

contains brain

vertebral cavity

contains spinal cord

Ventral body cavity

Contains the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity

thoracic cavity

Contains the superior mediastinum, pleural cavity, and pericardial cavity (within the mediastinum).

Pleural cavitys

Lungs

Pericardial cavity

within the mediastinum and contains the heart

diaphragm

separates the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity

Abdominal cavity

contains digestive viscera, stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, kidneys

Pelvic cavity

contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum

abdominopelvic cavity

contains the Abdominal cavity and Pelvic cavity

mediastinum

contains pericardial cavity

superior mediastinum

surrounds other thoracic organs, such as esophagus, trachea, etc

Serosa membrane

thin, double-layered membranes (parietal and visceral) that cover surfaces in ventral body cavity and filled with serous fluid

Parietal serosa

lines body cavity walls, outer membrane

Visceral serosa

covers internal organs, inner membrane, and secrets serous fluid

Pericardiam

Outer serous membrane of the pericardial cavity (heart)

pleurae

Outer serous membrane of the pleural cavity (lung)

Peritoneum

Outer serous membrane of the abdominopelvic cavity

Smaller body cavities

oral and digestive cavity, nasal cavity, orbital cavity, middle ear cavity, synovial cavities

synovial cavities

Joint cavities