Body Cavities & Membranes Flashcards
(29 cards)
Body cavities
Spaces that enclose organs
- Protects organs
- Permits change of size/shape of organs
- Prevents friction upon movement
Ventral body cavity
Neck to hip
Thoracic cavity
Chest
Pleural cavity
Houses lungs; one each
Pericardial cavity
Houses heart
Mediastinum
Central region dividing thoracic cavity; houses the heart
Abdominopelvic cavity
Mid-trunk to hip
Abdominal cavity
Houses digestive organs
Pelvic cavity
Houses reproductive, urinary, and some digestive organs
Dorsal body cavity
Head to neck
Cranial cavity
Houses brain
Vertebral cavity/canal
Houses spinal cord
Serous membrane
Delicate membrane that partially or completely encloses the ventral body cavity
Mesothelium
Also called simple squamous epithelium; makes up serous membrane
Visceral serous membrane
Inner serous membrane that directly wraps/covers the organ
Parietal serous membrane
Outer serous membrane that surrounds the walls of the cavity
Serous cavity
Area between visceral and parietal serous membranes; filled with serous fluid
Pleura
The serous membrane that surrounds a pleural cavity
Visceral pleura
Inner serous membrane surrounding the lung
Parietal pleura
Outer serous membrane surrounding the lung
Pericardium
The serous membrane that surrounds the pericardial cavity
Visceral pericardium
Inner serous membrane surrounding the heart
Parietal pericardium
Outer serous membrane surrounding the heart
Peritoneum
The serous membrane that surrounds the peritoneal cavity
