Ventral Body Cavity
Composed of the superior thoracic cavity, and inferior abdominopelvic cavity. The dome-shaped diaphragm separates the two.
Thoracic Cavity
Separated from the rest of the ventral cavity by the diaphragm; contains the heart and lungs.
Pericardial Cavity
Located within the thoracic cavity; contains the heart.
Pleural Cavity
Located within the thoracic cavity; contains the lungs.
Abdominopelvic Cavity
Located within the ventral body cavity, inferior to the diaphragm. Sometimes separated into two areas: abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity
Abdominal Cavity
The area that houses the stomach, intestines, liver, and other organs.
Pelvic Cavity
The region that is partially enclosed by the bony pelvis and contains the reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum.
Dorsal Body Cavity
Subdivided into the cranial and vertebral cavity
Cranial Cavity
Lies within the rigid skull and encases the brain
Vertebral (Spinal) Cavity
Runs through the bony vertebral column to enclose the delicate spinal cord
Nasal Cavity
Located within and posterior to the nose; part of the passages of the respiratory system.
Oral Cavity
Commonly called the mouth; contains the tongue and teeth.
Orbital Cavity
House the eyes and present them in an anterior position.
Middle Ear Cavity
Lies jus medial to an eardrum and is cared into the bony skull. Contains tiny bones that transmit sound vibrations to the hearing receptors in the inner ears.
Synovial Cavity
Joint cavities - they are enclosed within fibrous capsules that surround the freely movable joints of the body, such as those between the vertebrae, knee, and hip joints.