Body Cavities & Membranes (unit 1)

serous membrane

produce a thin watery liquid (serous fluid) that lubricates organs (decrease friction)

parietal layer

outer layer of the serous membrane that is attached to the body wall

visceral layer

inner layer of the serous membrane that is attached to the specific organs

posterior/dorsal body cavity

largely on the posterior side of the body and is divided into 2 smaller cavities (cranial and vertebral)

cranial cavity

area encased by the skull (contains cerebrospinal fluid and brain)

vertebral cavity

area encased by the vertebrae (contains cerebrospinal fluid and vertebrae)

anterior/ventral body cavity

largely on the anterior side of the body and has 2 main divisions (thoracic and abdominopelvic)

thoracic cavity

located superior to the diaphragm and includes the area encased by the ribs (contains pleural cavities and mediastinum)

pleural cavities

each pleural cavity surrounds one of the lungs and is located between the parietal pleurae (attached to body wall/diaphragm) and the visceral pleurae (attached to lungs)

medistinum

the cavity between the 2 pleural cavities and it contains the pericardial membrane, great vessels, esophagus, trachea, and bronchi

pericardial cavity

Within the mediastinum and is located between the 2 layers of the pericardial membrane, the parietal pericardium (attached to surrounding structures) and the visceral pericardium (attached to the heart muscle)

abdominopelvic cavity

located inferior to the diaphragm and extends to the bony pelvis and contains 3 subcavities (abdominal, pelvic, and the peritoneal cavity)

abdominal cavity

the area superior to the bony pelvis contains the liver, gallbladder, small intestine, stomach, pancreas, kidneys, adrenal glands, spleen, and majority of the colon

pelvic cavity

the cavity housed within the bony pelvis contains the sec organs, bladder, rectum, and part of the colon

peritoneal cavity

located between the 2 layers of the peritoneal membrane the parietal peritoneal (attached to body) and the visceral peritoneum attached to many abdominal and pelvic organs)

intraperitoneal

organs that are within the peritoneal cavity which includes the liver, most of the small intestine and colon, stomach, the spleen, and part of the pancreas

retroperitoneal

the organs that are posterior to the peritoneal cavity which includes the kidneys, adrenal glands, sex organs, bladder, part of the colon and pancreas

right upper quadrant

^^liver, pancreas, gallbladder, duodenum, transverse colon^^, right adrenal gland, and the right kidney

right lower quadrant

^^small intestine, ascending colon, appendix, urinary bladder^^, part of the right kidney, right ureter, right ovary & uterine tube, and right spermatic cord

left upper quadrant

^^liver, stomach, spleen, pancreas, transverse colon^^, left adrenal gland, and left kidney

left lower quadrant

^^small intestine, descending colon, urinary bladder^^, part of the left kidney, left ureter, left ovary & uterine tube, left spermatic cord, and the sigmoid colon

abdominopelvic regions