Cavities of the body – Anatomy Atlas

Table of Contents

Overview

Cavities of the body The main body cavities are classified into two groups according to their location; dorsal cavity and ventral cavity. The dorsal cavity consists of the cranial cavity, which houses the brain; and the vertebral canal, which houses the spinal cord. The ventral cavity is composed of the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity. The thoracic cavity contains several smaller spaces that house the trachea, lungs, esophagus and heart. The abdominopelvic cavity can be subdivided into the abdominal and the pelvic cavities, which contain the abdominal and pelvic organs, respectively.

Keypoints

Key points about the cavities of the body
Main cavities of the body	Dorsal cavity: Cranial cavity, vertebral canal Ventral cavity: Thoracic cavity, abdominopelvic cavity
Main contents of body cavities	Cranial cavity: Brain Vertebral canal: Spinal cord Thoracic cavity: Mediastinum contents: Heart, trachea, esophagus Mediastinum divisions: Superior, inferior (subdivisions: anterior, middle posterior) Pleural cavity: Lungs Abdominopelvic cavity: Abdominal cavity: Gastrointestinal system, kidneys and suprarenal glands Pelvic cavity: Reproductive organs, urinary bladder, sigmoid colon and rectum