Body regions and cavities chapter 2

Body Regions and Body Cavities

Body Regions

• Definition: Superficial voids with no organs.

• Key Regions:

  • Anterior Side:

    • Cephalic Region: The entire head

    • Cervical Region: Connects head to the torso

    • Thoracic Region: The chest

    • Abdominal Region: The abdomen

    • Pelvic Region: The pelvis

    • Pubic Region: The genitals

  • Posterior Side:

    • Dorsum: The back

    • Vertebral Region

    • Gluteal Region

Body Cavities

• Cranial Cavity: Contains the brain

• Spinal Cavity: Contains the spinal cord

• Thoracic Cavity: Contains the lungs and mediastinum

  • Mediastinum Components:

    • Heart

    • Aorta

    • Esophagus

    • Trachea

    • Thymus gland

• Abdominal Cavity: Contains digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems.

• Pelvic Cavity: Contains digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems.

2 Part Naming System for Membranes

• Questions:

  • Is it an organ? → Visceral

  • Is it a cavity wall? → Parietal

  • Is it in the thoracic cavity? → Pleura

  • Is it in the abdominopelvic cavity? → Peritoneum

• Example: Membranes covering the lungs: Visceral pleura

• Note: The kidneys are uncovered, no membranes.

Body Cavities and Their Major Organs

• Dorsal Cavities:

  • Cranial Cavity: Brain

  • Spinal Cavity: Spinal cord

• Ventral Cavities:

  • Thoracic Cavity:

    • Pleural cavity: lungs

    • Pericardial cavity: heart

    • Mediastinum: heart, aorta, esophagus, trachea, thymus

  • Abdominopelvic Cavity:

    • Abdominal Cavity: Stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, portions of small intestines and colon

    • Pelvic Cavity: Female: uterus, fallopian tubes, vagina; Male: prostate gland, seminal vesicles, portion of vas deferens; Both: urinary bladder, ureters, urethra, portions of small intestines and colon

Quadrant Overview

• RUQ: Liver, pancreas, spleen, left kidney, stomach, colon, small intestines

• LUQ: Left kidney, liver (small portion), pancreas (big portion), spleen, stomach, colon, small intestines

• RLQ: Right ureter, appendix, right ovary, right fallopian tube, midline area (bladder, uterus, prostate)

• LLQ: Left ureter, left ovary, left fallopian tube