Body Cavities

dorsal cavity

primarily protects the nervous system organs which tend to be very fragile

cranial cavity

sits in the skull and houses the brain

spinal cavity

runs within the bony vertebral column and encases the spinal cord

ventral body cavity

anterior and larger of the two cavities

thoracic cavity

protected by the ribs and msucles found within the chest

pleural cavities

which each contain a lung

pericardial cavity

surrounds the heart

addominopelvic cavity

has two parts: the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity

abdominal cavity

houses the stomach, intestines, spleen, and liver

pelvic cavity

lies in the pelvis and houses the bladder,, reproductive organs, and the rectum

serosa

serous membrane that is lubricated by serous fluid that is secreted by the membrane itseld

function of serosa

reduces the friction between the organs as they slide around

pleurisy

inflammation on the pleurae

umbillical region

surrounds the navel, the umbilical region

epigastric region

above or superior to the umbilical region

hypogastric region

located below, or inferior to, the umbilical region

right and left iliac

hyopgastric regions, located beside or lateral to the hypogastric region

right and left lumbar regions

lie beside or lateral to the umbilical region

right and left hypochondriac regions

lie beside the epigastric region

oral cavity

contains the mouth, teeth, and tongue

nasal cavity

located within and posterior to the nose

orbital cavities

house the eyes

middle ear cavities

in the skull and lie medial to the eardrums ; contain the malleus, incus, and stapes

synovial cavities

joint cavities; enclosed within fibrous capsules that surround freely movable joints of the body