Body Cavities and Membranes notes Flashcards
Body cavities function
confine organs and systems that have similar functions
Body cavities perform the following: …
- compartmentalize organs (viscera)
- house and protect organs
- support organs
2 main body cavities
Dorsal (posterior) cavity and Ventral (anterior) cavity
Dorsal (posterior) cavity
surrounds and protects CNS
- cranial vault
- vertebral canal
Ventral (anterior) cavity
thoracic cavity (abdominal cavity- base of neck to diaphragm)
- pleural cavities (2): lungs
- pericardial cavity: lines lungs (heart)
- mediastinum: trachae, thymus gland
Diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity from what?
the abdominopelvic cavity (below abdominal cavity)
Other cavities
oral cavity
nasal cavity
orbits
middle ear cavities
Body membranes
cover, separate and support visceral organs and line body cavities (epithelial and connective tissue)
Mucous membranes
- line cavities and tubes that enter or exit the body
- secrete mucus- thick, sticky fluid
- mucus lubricates and protects
- stratified epithelium ( >1 layer)
Serous membranes
- line thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities and cover visceral organs
- secrete serous fluid- thin, watery-lubricates, contains WBC (fights diseases); allows movement
2 layers of Serous membranes
visceral and parietal layer
Visceral layer
stuck to the organ (hand in water ballon)
Parietal layer
water ballon around hand (protect organs if sick to not spread to others)
anchors that allow movement
2 layers create a potential space that make u the following: …
Pleural cavity, Pericardial cavity, and the Peritoneal cavity
Pleural cavity
in the thoracic
pleura: surround the lungs
- visceral pleura
- parietal pleura
