Body Cavities Flashcards
Dorsal Cavities
cranial cavity: brain
vertebral cavity: spinal cord,
Ventral Cavities
thoracic cavity
abdominal cavity
pelvic cavity
functions of vertebral column
carries and protects spinal cord and nerves
supports thoracic/rib cage and protects organs within
forms part of weight transfer route
absorbs shock forces passing from lower limb
attachment points for muscles which support column
intervertebral discs
from inferior C2 to superior S1
cranial cavity
contains brain and formed by cranial bones
vertebral cavity
contains spinal cord and formed by bones in the vertebral column
thoracic cavity
formed by ribs, muscles of chest, sternum and the thoracic portion of the vertebral column
cavities contained in the thoracic cavity
pleural cavity, pericardial cavity and mediastinum
pleural cavity
space between layers of the pleura that surrounds lungs (fluid-filled)
pericardial cavity
space between the layers of the pericardium that surrounds the heart
mediastinum
central portion of thoracic cavity between the lungs (from sternum to vertebral column; from lungs to diaphragm)
contains heart, thymus, oesophagus, trachea and large vessels
abdominal cavity
stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, small intestine and most of large intestine
peritoneum
serous membrane of the abdominal cavity
pelvic cavity
urinary bladder, portions of large intestine, internal organs of reproduction
how many cervical vertebrae
7 (C1-C7)
how many thoracic vertebrae
12 (T1-T12)
how many lumbar vertebrae
5 (L1-L5)
how many bones form the sacrum
5 fused sacral vertebrae
how many vertebrae form the coccyx
4 fused coccygeal vertebrae
which of the vertebrae are movable
cervical, lumbar and thoracic (not the sacrum and the coccyx)
annulus fibrosus
fibrous rings of fibrous cartilage - outer layer of discs
nucleus pulposus
soft, pulpy, highly elastic substance contained in the disc - inner layer
