body cavities and membranes

dorsal cavity

1. cranial cavity: the brain

2. vertebral cavity: runs through the vertebral column and houses the spinal cord

ventral body cavity (thoracic cavity)

1. 2 pleural cavities: contains the

2. mediastinum: contains the heart & pericardial sac

ventral body cavity (abdominal cavity)

1. abdominal cavity: contains the digestive organs, kidneys, etc

2. pelvic cavity: contains the bladder, rectum, and some reproductive organs

serous cavities

• serous cavities are "potential" spaces lined by a serous membrane (serosa)

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• parietal layer - forms the outer wall of the cavity

• visceral layer - covers the visceral organ inside the cavity

  • parietal and visceral layers are continuous with one another. the potential space enclosed within is the serous cavity

cranial cavity

the brain

vertebral cavity

runs through the vertebral column and houses the spinal cord

2 pleural cavities

contains the lungs

mediastinum

contains the heart & pericardial sac

abdominal cavity

contains the digestive organs, kidneys, etc

pelvic cavity

contains the bladder. rectum, and some reproductive organs

parietal cavity

forms the outer wall of the cavity

visceral layer

covers the visceral organ inside the cavity

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the ___ and the ___ layers are continuous with one another, the potential space enclosed within is the serous cavity