Body Cavities

Question 1

Cranial Cavity

Answer 1

Formed by cranial bones and contains the brain

Question 2

Vertebral Canal

Answer 2

Formed by vertebral column and contains spinal cord and the beginnings of spinal nerves

Question 3

Thoracic cavity

Answer 3

Chest cavity; contains pleural and pericardial cavities and the mediastinum

Question 4

Pleural cavity

Answer 4

A potential space between the layers of the pleura that surrounds a lung

Question 5

Pericardial cavity

Answer 5

A potential space between the layers of the pericardium that surrounds the heart

Question 6

Mediastinum

Answer 6

Central portion of the thoracic cavity between the lungs; extends from the sternum to vertebral column and from first rib to diaphragm; contains the heart, thymus, esophagus, trachea, and several large blood vessels

Question 7

Diaphragm

Answer 7

A dome-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity

Question 8

Abdominal cavity

Answer 8

Contains the stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, small intestine, and most of the large intestine

Question 9

Pelvic cavity

Answer 9

Contains the urinary bladder, portions of the large intestine, and internal organs of reproduction

Question 10

Serous membrane

Answer 10

A slippery, double-layered membrane associated with body cavities that does not open directly to the exterior

Question 11

Parietal layer

Answer 11

A thin epithelium that lines the walls of the cavities

Question 12

Visceral layer

Answer 12

A thin epithelium that covers and adheres to the viscera within the cavities