Body Cavities

1. Body Cavities What’s in there??

2. Body Cavities: Spaces within the body which contain vital organs

3. Dorsal (Posterior) Cavity: One long continuous cavity that is located on the back of the body, divided into two sections • Cranial Cavity = contains the brain • Spinal Cavity = contains the spinal cord

4. Ventral (Anterior) Cavities: Larger and separated into two distinct cavities by a dome-shaped muscle called the diaphragm • Thoracic Cavity = located in the chest; contains the heart, lungs, esophagus, trachea • Thymus, large blood vessels

5. Ventral (Anterior) Cavities: 2a. Abdominal Cavity = upper abdominal cavity; contains the stomach, liver, small intestine, most of large intestine • Spleen, gallbladder 2b. Pelvic Cavity = lower abdominal cavity; contains urinary bladder, rest of large intestine, rectum, male/female reproductive organs

6. Abdominopelvic Cavity: 9 Regions • Epigastric • Umbilical • Hypogastric • Hypochondriac (right & left) • Lumbar (right & left) • Inguinal (right & left)

7. Abdominopelvic Cavity: 9 Regions

8. Epigastric Region • Superior to umbilical region • Contains stomach, liver (and some of large intestine)

9. Umbilical Region • Center-most region, around the navel • Contains small intestine, large intestine (and some of the stomach)

10. Hypogastric Region • Inferior to umbilical region • Contains small intestine, rectum, urinary bladder, ovaries and uterus (in females) (and some of large intestine)

11. Right & Left Lumbar Regions • Lateral to umbilical region • Contain part of small and large intestines

12. Right Inguinal Region • Lateral (right) to hypogastric region • Contains appendix, part of small and large intestines

13. Left Inguinal Region • Lateral (left) to hypogastric region • Contains part of small and large intestines

14. Right Hypochondriac Region • Lateral (right) to epigastric region • Contains liver (and part of stomach)

15. LeftHypochondriac Region • Lateral (left) to epigastric region • Contains spleen (and part of stomach)