Major Body Cavitities

Question 1

Dorsal (posterior) cavity

Answer 1

Is made from the dorsal hollow nerve tube and is subdivided into the cranial and vertebral/spinal cavity

Question 2

Cranial cavity

Answer 2

Surrounded by the skull, enclosing and protecting the brain

Question 3

Vertebral/spinal cavity

Answer 3

Surrounded by the vertebral column enclosing and protecting the spinal cord

Question 4

Ventral (anterior) cavity

Answer 4

Made from the coelom and is subdivided into thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity

Question 5

Thoracic cavity

Answer 5

Area superior to the diaphragm that includes 2 pleural cavities and the mediastinum

Question 6

Mediastinum

Answer 6

Located between the pleural cavities and is divided into the superior mediastinum and the pericardial cavity

Question 7

Superior mediastinum

Answer 7

Contains trachea, esophagus, and blood vessels

Question 8

Pericardial cavity

Answer 8

Inferior portion of mediastinum encasing and protecting the heart

Question 9

Abdominopelvic cavity

Answer 9

Inferior to the diaphragm and encloses the digestive organs in the abdominal cavity and urinary and reproductive organs in the pelvic cavity

Question 10

Abdominal cavity

Answer 10

Encloses the digestive organs

Question 11

Pelvic cavity

Answer 11

Contains urinary and reproductive organs