Body Cavities

Front 1

dorsal cavity

Back 1

contains brain and spinal cord AKA the central nervous system. consists of two parts: a some what spherical cranial cavity in the skull and a long, narrow spinal cavity runnig down the spine. also the smaller of the two main cavities.

Front 2

spinal cavity

Back 2

also known as the spinal canal. it is formed from the vertebrae of the spine, and it houses and protects the spinal cord.

Front 3

cranial cavity

Back 3

also known as the cranium. it is formed from several bones of the skull, and it houses and protects the brain.

Front 4

ventral cavity

Back 4

contains most of the soft organs (viscera) of the body. it is devided by the thin diaphragm muscle into the cranial thoracic cavity, and the caudal abdminal cavity. the larger of the two main cavities.

Front 5

thoracic cavity

Back 5

also known as the thorax or chest. major structures include the heart, lungs, esophagus, and many major blood vessels coming to or going from the heart. all of the organs in the thoracic cavity as well as the cavity itself are covered by a thin membrane called the pleura. in between the two pleural layers (the potential space) is filled with a small amount of lubricating fluid called pleural fluid.

Front 6

abdominal cavity

Back 6

includes mainly the digestive organs and part of the reproductive and urinary organs.

Front 7

pleurae

Back 7

two continuous serous membranes that cover/line the thoracic cavity and its organs. parietal pleura and the visceral/pulmonary and (for the heart area) mediastinal pleura.

Front 8

parietal pleura

Back 8

lines each half of the thoracic cavity.

Front 9

mediastinal pleura

Back 9

connecting pleura on each side enclosing the mediastinum, a space containing the heart, esophagus, trachea, blood vessels, nerves, thymus, lymph nodes and ducts, connective tissue and fat.

Front 10

visceral pleura

Back 10

encloses each lung

Front 11

visceral pericardium

Back 11

membrane that covers the heart. also called epicardium.

Front 12

peritoneum

Back 12

three continuous parts of the membrane that covers/lines the abdominal/the "cranial" pelvic cavities and their organs. parietal peritoneum, connecting peritoneum, and visceral peritoneum.

Front 13

parietal peritoneum

Back 13

lines abdominal cavity and the cranial part of the pelvic cavity.

Front 14

connecting peritoneum

Back 14

suspends organs; double fold enclosing vessels and nerves. mesentery (intestines and womb), ligaments.

Front 15

visceral peritoneum

Back 15

encloses a viscus

Front 16

pelvic cavity

Back 16

includes most of the reproductive and urinary organs.

Front 17

peritoneal fluid

Back 17

lubricating fluid that fills the potential space between the two layers of the peritoneum.

Front 18

pleural fluid

Back 18

lubricating fluid that fills the potential space between the two layers of the pleura.