1. Anatomical Positions, Directions, Cavities, Planes of the Human Body
Chapter 1
Body Cavities & Membranes
Slide 33-48

2. Body Cavities
Body Cavities - Body cavities are spaces within the body that help protect, separate, and support internal organs.
Dorsal Body Cavity
Ventral Body Cavity

3. Abdominopelvic Cavity
Ventral Body Cavity
(Coelom)
Provides protection, allows organ movement; lining prevents friction
Dorsal Body Cavity
Cushions and protects the CNS
Abdominopelvic Cavity
of abdomen and pelvis
Contains the peritoneal cavity
Cranial Cavity
Contains brain
Spinal Cavity
Contains spinal cord

4. Body Cavities
Spaces within the body that help protect, separate, and support internal organs
Cranial cavity
Thoracic cavity
Abdominopelvic cavity
Pelvic cavity

5. Body Cavities

6. Copyright 2009, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

7. Cranial Cavity and Vertebral Canal
Formed by the cranial bones
Protects the brain
Vertebral canal
Formed by bones of vertebral column
Contains the spinal cord
Meninges [mi-nin-jeez]
Layers of protective tissue that line the cranial cavity and vertebral canal

8. Thoracic Cavity Also called the chest cavity Formed by Ribs
Muscles of the chest
Sternum (breastbone)
Vertebral column (thoracic portion)

9. Body Cavities and Membranes
Dorsal body cavity
Cavity subdivided into the cranial cavity and the vertebral cavity.
Cranial cavity houses the brain.
Vertebral cavity runs through the vertebral column and encloses the spinal cord

10. Body Cavities and Membranes
Ventral body cavity – subdivided into:
Thoracic cavity – divided into three parts
Two lateral parts each containing a lung surrounded by a pleural cavity
Mediastinum – contains the heart surrounded by the pericardial sac
[mee-dee-a-stahy-nuh m] 

11. Body Cavities and Membranes
Ventral body cavity
Abdominopelvic cavity – divided into two parts
Abdominal cavity – contains the liver, stomach, kidneys, and other organs
Pelvic cavity – contains the bladder, some reproductive organs, and rectum

12. Thoracic Cavity Within the thoracic cavity Pericardial cavity
Fluid-filled space that surround the heart
Pleural cavity
Two fluid-filled spaces that that surround each lung

14. Body Cavities and Membranes
Serous cavities – a slit-like space lined by a serous membrane
Pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum
Parietal serosa – outer wall of the cavity
Visceral serosa covers the visceral organs

15. Copyright 2009, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

16. Ventral Body Cavity Membranes

17. Ventral Body Cavity Membranes