Body Cavities

Question 1

dorsal cavity

Answer 1

protects (very fragile) nervous system organs

Question 2

sub-cavities of dorsal cavity

Answer 2

1. cranial cavity - sits in skull, holds brain

2. spinal cavity - w/in vertibral column, encases spinal cord

Question 3

ventral cavity

Answer 3

houses visceral organs

walls of cavity & outsides of organs are covered in serosa

Question 4

sub-cavities of ventral cavity

Answer 4

1. thoracic cavity

2. abdominopelvic cavity

Question 5

thoracic cavity

Answer 5

protected by ribs & chest muscles

contains: pleural cavities (2) & pericardial cavity

Question 6

pleural cavities

Answer 6

each contain 1 lung

Question 7

pericardial cavity

Answer 7

contains heart, esophagus, trachea (also called “mediastinum”)

Question 8

abdominopelvic cavity

Answer 8

divided from thoracic cavity by diaphragm (dome-shaped muscle)

contains:

1. abdominal cavity
2. pelvic cavity

Question 9

abdominal cavity

Answer 9

contains stomach, intestines, spleen, liver

these organs are very vulnerable to injury because not protected by any bones

Question 10

pelvic cavity

Answer 10

w/in the bony pelvis

contains bladder, reproductive organs, rectum

Question 11

serosa

Answer 11

membranes lubricated w.serous fluid, reduces friction as organs move

if serous membranes get inflamed, organs stick together & can be super painful (pleurisy = example)

Question 12

oral cavity

Answer 12

mouth, teeth, tongue - part of digestive tract

Question 13

nasal cavity

Answer 13

part of respiratory tract

Question 14

orbital cavity

Answer 14

eyes

Question 15

middle ear cavity

Answer 15

in skull, contains tiny bones: malleus, in cus, and stapes

these bones transmit sound vibrations to hearing receptors

Question 16

synovial cavities

Answer 16

joint cavities

make lubricating fluid to decrease friction btwn bones

Question 17

4 regions of abdominal cavity

Answer 17

1. right upper
2. right lower
3. left upper
4. left lower