Body Cavities

Question 1

What are the 4 true body cavities?

Answer 1

2 Pleural, 1 Pericardial, and 1 Peritoneal

All true cavities are made of serous membrane and filled with serous fluid

Question 2

Where are the 4 true body cavities located?

Answer 2

Pleural cavities: Thoracic cavity, each surrounding a lung

Pericardial cavity: Thoracic cavity, surrounding the heart

Peritoneal cavity: Abdominopelvic cavity

They are all located in the ventral body cavity

Question 3

What cavities make up the thoracic cavity?

Answer 3

Pleural and pericardial cavity

Question 4

What cavities make up the abdominopelvic cavity?

Answer 4

Peritoneal cavity, abdominal cavity, pelvic cavity

Question 5

What divides the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavities?

Answer 5

The diaphragm

Question 6

What are the regional body cavities?

Answer 6

Dorsal body cavity (back):
-cranial cavity
-spinal cavity

Ventral body cavity (front):
-thoracic cavity
-abdominopelvic cavity (abdominal + pelvic cavities)
-diaphragm
-pleural cavities (visceral and parietal)
-peritoneum (visceral and parietal)

Question 7

Thoracic Cavity

Answer 7

Contains pericardial and pleural cavities (true cavities)

visceral pleura and pericardium are always on the inner side
parietal pleura and pericardium are always on the outer side

Question 8

What lines true cavities? (membrane)

Answer 8

Serous membranes, each consisting of a parietal (outer) and visceral (inner) layer

Serous fluid resides in between the layers, allowing for movement without causing damage to surrounding tissues (no damage from friction)

Question 9

What is the mediastinum?

Answer 9

Central portion of the thoracic cavity between the lungs; extends from the sternum to vertebral column and from first rib to diaphragm.

contains the heart, thymus, esophagus, trachea, and several large blood vessels