Body Cavities & Membranes Flashcards
Body cavities
Spaces that enclose organs
- Protects organs
- Permits change of size/shape of organs
- Prevents friction upon movement
Ventral body cavity
Neck to hip
Thoracic cavity
Chest
Pleural cavity
Houses lungs; one each
Pericardial cavity
Houses heart
Mediastinum
Central region dividing thoracic cavity; houses the heart
Abdominopelvic cavity
Mid-trunk to hip
Abdominal cavity
Houses digestive organs
Pelvic cavity
Houses reproductive, urinary, and some digestive organs
Dorsal body cavity
Head to neck
Cranial cavity
Houses brain
Vertebral cavity/canal
Houses spinal cord
Serous membrane
Delicate membrane that partially or completely encloses the ventral body cavity
Mesothelium
Also called simple squamous epithelium; makes up serous membrane
Visceral serous membrane
Inner serous membrane that directly wraps/covers the organ