cavities and serous membranes

Body cavities:

• Diaphragm: divides body cavity into thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities
• Thoracic cavity: contains lungs and heart
  • Mediastinum: contains all structures of the thoracic cavity except lungs (lungs, esophagus)
• Abdominal cavity: contains stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys
• Pelvic cavity: contains urinary bladder, part of large intestine, reproductive organs

Serous membranes: thin layer of epithelial tissue

• Visceral serous membrane: “inner balloon”
• Parietal serous membrane: “outer balloon”
• Cavity: serous fluid between the two membranes that is lubricating (to reduce friction)
• Pericardium: membrane around the heart
  • Visceral pericardium: between the heart and the anterior/posterior portion of thoracic cavity
  • Parietal membrane: inner membrane by heart
• Pleura: membrane around the lungs
  • Parietal pleura: comes into contact with diaphragm
  • Visceral pleura: inner membrane in contact with lungs
• Peritoneum: membrane around organs of the abdominal cavity
  • Mesentery: peritoneal folds that create a double membrane that connects the organs together
  • Retroperitoneal organs: organs that just come in contact with some of the parietal peritoneum