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Body Cavities and membranes

Picture

     What Do We Mean By "Body Cavity"?

   Before we begin our discussion of body cavities and membranes, it is important to know what a cavity is in the first place! (These are not the cavities in your teeth that you dread getting filled by your friendly neighborhood dentist. )
   In anatomy you learn that the human body is, in a sense, a glorified tube. ( 
I can almost hear you GASP!  ) OK, a tube is an over simplification, but the premise holds true. The inside and the outside of your tube  is covered with epithelial tissue. This tube  has some specialized regions that are made up of concave regions (also lined with epithelium) that are connected to the outside. You also have fluid-filled chambers inside of your body that is NOT connected to the outside. All of these regions are considered CAVITIES. The definition of a body cavity - a body cavity is considered to be any fluid-filled space in the body, other than vessels (blood and lymph).  

The human body has 2 main body cavities.
​
They are called the dorsal (or posterior) cavity and a ventral (or anterior) cavity (see illustration).

BACK

FRONT

The Dorsal (or Posterior) Cavity
          -   The Cranial Cavity
          -   The Vertebral (or Spinal) Cavity 

The Ventral (or Anterior) Cavity
          -   The Thoracic Cavity
          -   The Abdominopelvic Cavity 

Picture
IMAGE:  By NCI (original) / Mysid (SVG) - Vectorized by Mysid in Inkscape, based on http://training.seer.cancer.gov/module_anatomy/unit1_3_terminology3_cavities.html. Image renamed from File:Body cavities.svg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5678872 

The Dorsal Cavity

The Ventral Cavity

The dorsal cavity consists of the cranial cavity that houses the brain and the vertebral (or spinal) cavity which contains the spinal cord.

    There is no physical separation between the cranial cavity and vertebral cavity. This cavity is a continuous chamber filled with cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. "
Cerebro-" means "brain" and "spinal" means "of the spine", so the liquid cerebrospinal fluid is named after what it essentially bathes, which is the brain and spine.
The ventral (or anterior) cavity contains the body's visceral organs. The visceral organs are your body's internal organs, including the heart, the lungs, the liver, the pancreas and the intestines.

   The ventral cavity of the human body is divided into two main regions; the thoracic cavity, and the abdominopelvic cavity, each of which have additional subdivisions.
​
​    The thoracic cavity and the abdominal cavity are separated by the diaphragm.
Picture

Subdivisions of the Thoracic Cavity

Picture
The Thoracic Cavity
The thoracic cavity is separated into three chambers; the left and right pleural cavities and the mediastinum. The thoracic cavity is the cavity of the chest area. This cavity lies underneath the rib cage and houses many important organs and structures of cardiovascular, respiratory  and lymphatic systems. The two arguably most notable organs of the thoracic cavity are the heart and the lungs.
​

The Pleural Cavity
The left lung is in the left portion of the pleural cavity and the right lung is in the right portion of the pleural cavity.

The Mediastinum Cavity
The space between the 2 pleural cavities is the mediastinum, which holds the pericardial cavity which contains the heart (see illustration). 


Subdivisions of the Abdominopelvic Cavity



​The Abdominopelvic Cavity

The abdominopelvic cavity is divided into 2 areas; the abdominal cavity
 and the pelvic cavity. 

​​The Abdominal Cavity
The abdominal cavity contains digestive organs., including the stomach, the liver, the kidneys, the small intestines, etc.  
​
​The Pelvic Cavity
The pelvic cavity contains the internal reproductive organs, the urinary bladder and the rectum.
Picture

Other Body Cavities

​There are other body cavities in addition to the dorsal and ventral cavities. These other cavities, however, are accessible from the outside of the body.
This includes the oral cavity, the nasal cavity and the orbital cavity. The word ​oral ​means "of the mouth". ​
​The Oral Cavity
Picture
By Duncan Kenneth Winter - originally posted to Flickr as 65-5390-1 by Otis Historical Archives Nat'l Museum of Health & Medicine. See Wired article for more information., CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6266235

The Nasal Cavity
Picture
By Henry Vandyke Carter - Henry Gray (1918) Anatomy of the Human Body (See "Book" section below)Bartleby.com: Gray's Anatomy, Plate 855, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=566789

​The Orbital Cavity
Picture
By Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator - Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1485875


Membranes

 It is important to also know about the membranes that line the body's cavities, as well. The body's cavities are lined with a specialized membrane, called the ​serous membrane (serosa). ​The serous membrane supplies the cavity with ​a constant supply of ​serous fluid ​​that is secretes. ​
The serous membrane (serosa) is a thin membrane that covers the walls and organs of the ventral cavity (which is made up of the thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity). The portion of the serous membrane that covers the walls of the cavity is called the ​parietal serosa. ​The definition of the word parietal ​is "of, relating to, attached to, or denoting the wall of the body or of a body cavity or hollow structure" according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parietal).​ The portion of the serous membrane that covers the internal organs (or viscera) ​is referred to as the visceral serosa.

Some areas of the serous membrane (serosa) have special names. For example, the serosa of the pericardial cavity that houses the heart is called the pericardial membrane,  and the serosa that lines the peritoneal cavity that surrounds most of the organs of the abdomen, is called the peritoneum.
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  • Home
  • Anatomy
    • THE BASICS >
      • Anatomical Positions
      • Levels of Organization
      • Anatomical Planes
      • Body Cavities and Membranes
      • Anatomical Regions
      • Microscopy
    • Cells >
      • Anatomy of the Cell
      • Membrane Transport
      • The Cell Cycle
      • REGULATION of The Cell Cycle
      • mitosis
      • BLOOD CELLS
    • Animal Dissection (Virtual)
    • Organ Systems >
      • The Integumentary System
      • Portal to the Skeletal system >
        • BONES AND SKELETAL TISSUES
        • The SKULL
        • the vertebral column
        • the Thoracic Cage
        • The Appendicular Skeleton
      • The Muscular System Portal >
        • SBVC Muscle Practical and Midterm Study Guide
        • The Muscles of the Head, Trunk and Shoulders
        • The Muscles of the Limbs
      • The Nervous System >
        • The Brain
        • The Ear - Sensory Organs
        • The Eye - Sensory Organs
      • The Respiratory System
      • SBVC Digestive System
      • Digestive System
      • THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM PORTAL >
        • Circulatory System SBVC
        • THE HEART
        • THE VESSELS OF BLOOD CIRCULATION
      • The Urinary System
      • THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
      • GABA MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
    • Tissues Portal >
      • Anatomy Exam One Study Guide
      • Cumulative Histology Slides Review
      • Epithelial Tissues
      • Connective Tissue
      • Muscle Tissue
      • Nervous Tissue
  • Anat & Physio
    • The Integumentary System a&p >
      • The Epidermis
      • The Dermis
    • Portal to the Skeletal system
    • A&P BONES AND SKELETAL TISSUES >
      • The Epidermis rio
      • Connective Tissue
      • joints
  • Microbiology
    • Microbiology Portal
    • HOME PAGE for BIO 270 Microbiology Sections 01 & 02 >
      • Syllabus for Microbiology BIO 270 Sections 01 & 02 Syllabus
    • HOME PAGE for BIO 270 Microbiology Hybrid Sections 70 & 71 >
      • Syllabus for Microbiology BIO 270 Sections 70 & 71 Syllabus >
        • THE CHEMICAL BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE >
          • Chemical Bonds
          • Chemical Reactions
        • History of Microbiology
        • Week 3 - BIOFILM >
          • week 3 - Eukaryotic vs Prokaryotic Cells >
            • - Prokaryotic Organisms
        • Week 4 - bacterial diversity >
          • Week 4 - Archaeal Diversity
          • Week 4 - Cell Structure and Function in the Bacteria and Archaea
          • - Prokaryotic Anatomy and Morphology
        • week 5 - Microbial Nutrition and Growth
        • Microbial Genetics
        • Bacteria and Archaea
        • Introduction to Microbiology
        • Cell Theory
        • week 7 - Nutritional Categories
        • Introduction to Microbial Metabolism
      • The Development of Cell Theory
      • Eukaryotes
      • CONTROL OF BACTERIA GROWTH AND ANTIBIOTICS
      • EPIDEMIOLOGY
      • PATHOGENICITY
      • HOST DEFENSES
      • Diseases
      • Definition of Terms
    • MIC LAB >
      • Microbiology Lab Exam One Study Guide
      • Dilution Series and Calculations
      • Ex 1 - Microscopes
      • Ex 2 - Microorganisms
      • EX 3 - aseptic technique
      • Ex 4 - Smear Prep
      • Ex 5 - Simple Stains
      • Ex 6 - Negative Staining
      • Ex 8 - Gram Stain
      • Ex 9 - Acid-Fast Stain
      • Ex 10 - Endospore Stain
      • Ex 11 - Motility
      • ex 12 -​ Pure culture technique
      • ex 13 - UV Radiation
      • Ex 14 - Enumeration of Bacteria : Standard Plate Count
      • ex - 15 Effects of Temperature on Growth
      • ex 16 - Handwashing
      • ex 17 - ph and microbial growth
      • ex 18 - Evaluation of Antiseptics
      • ex 19 - Antibiotic Sensitivity : Kirby-Bauer Method
  • Biology
    • Characteristics of Life
    • Chemistry of Life - Inorganic
    • The Chemistry of Cells - ORGANIC
    • EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
    • Introduction to The Cell
    • Cell Membranes and Osmosis
    • Photosynthesis and cellular Respiration
    • The Cell Cycle
    • REGULATION of The Cell Cycle
    • Mitosis
    • Meiosis
    • Genetics
    • Evolution
  • BIO LABS
    • BIO 111L Labs >
      • Lab 1 - The Basics of the Life Science Laboratory
      • Lab 2 - What are the Fundamental Units of Life?
      • Lab 3 - How Do Cells Respond to Changing Environments?
      • Lab 4 - How are Material Transported Throughout the Body?
      • Lab 5 - How is Energy Acquired?
      • Lab 6 - How do organisms reproduce and what are the consequences?
      • Lab 7 - How are Traits Inherited?
      • Lab 8 - How is Genetic Information Expressed?
      • Lab 9 - What Determines Where and How Many Species Exist?
      • Lab 10 - Why is Conserving Biodiversity Important?
    • Bio 101L Labs >
      • Enzymes
      • OSMOSIS LAB
      • Lab 1 - Bacteria, Protista and Fungi
      • Lab 2 - Plantae and Animalia
      • Photosynthesis
      • The Metric System
      • Lab 5 - Introduction to Cells
      • Lab 6 - The Chemistry of Cells
      • Lab 8 - Enzymes
      • Lab 9 - Photosynthesis
      • Lab 10 Fermentation, Aerobic Cellular Respiration and Associated Major Organ Systems
  • Verne the Sperm and friends
    • Verne the Sperm pg1 >
      • Verne the Sperm pg2
      • Verne the Sperm pg3
      • Verne the Sperm pg4
      • Verne the Sperm pg5
    • From Soup to Poop
    • Brittney the Kidney
    • mighty mitosis
    • FUN ZONE >
      • GAMES
      • Video Vault
      • Population Ecology - ACTIVITY
      • The Carbon Cycle - ACTIVITY
      • Evolution - ACTIVITY
      • EXTRA CREDIT - The Cell Game
      • SYMBIOSIS ACTIVITY
      • THE LORAX ACTIVITY
  • Environmental Science
    • MIDTERM 2 STUDY GUIDE
    • Exam 2 Study Guide
    • ENVS 105 Home Page >
      • Midterm 3 Study Guide Population Ecology
      • Ecology II - Communities and Ecosystems
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      • Module 2 Assignments
    • Inrtoduction to ENV SCI
    • Introduction to environmental science
    • Historical Perspective of ​Environmental Science
    • Biomes
    • ECOSYSTEMS and Energy Flow
    • FOOD CHAIN and FOOD WEB
    • Biogeochemical Recycling
    • Evolution - Our Beginning
    • Genetic Inheritance
    • Evolution: How Populations Change over Time
    • Symbiosis
    • Population Ecology
    • Competition in Nature
    • Predation
    • Herbivory
    • Niches
    • Fossil Fuels
  • Env Bio Lab
    • ENV BIO LAB FINAL STUDY GUIDE
    • The Metric System
    • Ecological Roles of Living Organisms >
      • The Basics
      • Bacteria - Ecological Roles
      • Protists - Ecological Roles
      • Fungus - Ecological Roles
      • Plantae and Animalia - Ecological Roles
    • Adaptations to Dry Climates
    • Microscopes
    • GROWTH CURVES
    • SOILS AND GROUNDWATER
    • WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS
  • Human Sexuality
    • Course Information
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    • Week 3
    • Week 4
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    • Week 6
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    • HOME PAGE for BIO 270 Microbiology Hybrid Sections 70 & 71
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      • pH Lab
      • VOLCANO LAB
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    • Time Management
  • Contact
  • MICROBIOLOGY UNKNOWN LAB
  • Ex 24 - Examination of Water - Most Probable Number
  • Ex 25 - Transformation
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