Body Cavities Flashcards
Major Body Divisions
axial and appendicular
Axial Division
head, neck, trunk
Appendicular Division
limbs
Function of Body Cavity
1) provides protection to organs; 2) allows organ movement; 3) lining prevents friction
Two Major Body Cavities
dorsal and ventral
Dorsal Cavity Subdivisions
cranial and spinal (vertebral)
Cranial Cavity
encases brain
Spinal (Vertebral) Cavity
encases spinal cord
Ventral cavity Subdivisions
thoracic and abdominopelvic
Viscera
internal organs
Thoracic Cavity Subdivisions
pleural (right and left), pericardial and mediastinal
Pleural Cavity
surrounds each lung
Pericardial Cavity
encloses heart
Mediastinal Cavity
cavity between lungs that contains the pericardial cavity; contains esophagus, trachea, and major vessels
Abdominal Cavity
contains stomach, intestines, spleen, kidneys and liver
Pelvic Cavity
contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs and rectum
Serosa
serous membranes
Serous Membrane
a thin, two-layered membrane that lines the body cavities and produces serous fluid to reduce friction in cavity from organ movement
Parietal Membrane Layer
1) lines internal cavity walls; 2) is the layer nearest to the body wall; 3) folds back on itself to become the visceral layer
Types of Parietal Layers
parietal pleura, parietal pericardium, parietal paritoneum
Visceral Membrane Layer
1) is the external layer of internal organs; 2) is nearest to the organs and farthest from the body wall
Types of Visceral Layers
visceral pleura, visceral pericardium, visceral paritoneum
Pericardium
serous membrane that surrounds the heart and the roots of the great vessels that exit and enter the heart
Fibrous Pericardium
tough connective tissue protecting and anchoring the heart to surrounding structures; prevents overfilling
Serous Pericardium
deep to fibrous pericardium; lines internal surface of fibrous pericardium and is the epicardium of the heart
Epicardium
visceral pericardium; external surface of heart
Pleura
serous membrane that surrounds each lung, dividing the thoracic cavity into two pleural compartments and the mediastinum
Parietal Pleura
lines inner thoracic wall, superior face of diaphragm and mediastinum between the lungs
Visceral Pleura
external lung surface
Pleural Fluid
fills pleural cavity and provides lubrication, surface tension, lung expansion and recoil
Peritoneum
serous membrane that surrounds several organs within the abdominopelvic cavity
Parietal Peritoneum
lines body wall
Visceral Peritoneum
on external surface of enclosed organs (intraperitonial, retroperitoneal, subperitoneal)
Mesentery
double visceral layer of peritoneum that suspends, supports an stabilizes some abdominopelvic organs; provides a route for blood vessels, lymphatics and nerves
Invagination
occurrence in which the parietal peritoneum of the posterior abdominopelvic wall extends out to engulf organs with visceral peritoneum, anchoring them to the parietal wall
Omenta
two mesenteries that extend above and below the curvatures of the stomach to tether the stomach to other digestive organs
Lesser Omentum
Omentum extending from above the stomach, from the liver to the lesser curvature
Greater Omentum
Omentum extending below the stomach, draping from greater curvature and in front of small intestine; insulates organs and wraps around areas of infection or trauma; contains fat deposits and lymph nodes
