Ventral Cavity

peritoneal cavity

-chamber within the abdominopelvic cavity -parietal peritoneum: lines cavity wall -visceral peritoneum: covers organs

ventral body cavity

-front of body (belly side/ventral) -2 regions thoracic & abdominopelvic cavities

diaphragm

-muscle for breathing -separates thoracic and abdomiopelvic cavities

serous membrane

-sheets of cells -lines organs and cavity walls - two types: visceral & parietal

Body cavity functions

1. protect organs 2. allow movement - size, shape change

retroperitoneal space

area posterior to peritoneum and anterior to muscular body wall (retro - "behind") - contains: kidneys, uterers, parts of digestive track

pleural cavities

contain lungs (right & left)

pericardial cavity

contains heart -lower portion of thoracic

thoracic cavity

contains: -right, left pleural cavities -pericardial cavity -mediastinum

abdominopelvic cavity

contains: -peritoneal cavity -abdominal cavity -pelvic cavity

pelvic cavity

inferior portion of cavity -within pelvic bones -contains: reproductive organs, rectum, bladder

mediastinum

medi - "middle" - upper-middle portion of thoracic cavity -contains: blood vessels, trachea, esophagus, thymus

Viscera

organs within cavities

pericardium

serous membrane around heart: -visceral pericardium & parietal pericardium

pleura

serous membrane around pleural cavities: -visceral pleura & parietal pleura

parietal layer

serous membrane that lines cavity walls

visceral layer

serous membrane that lines organ

Abdominal cavity

superior portion of cavity (diaphragm to pelvic) -contains digestive organs