Body Cavities Illustrations
Lateral and Anterior Views
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Introduction
The body contains two major cavities: the dorsal cavity and the ventral cavity. These compartments and their subdivisions house and protect many vital organs, tissues, and associated fluids.
Introduction
The human body contains two principal cavities: the dorsal cavity and the ventral cavity. These compartments and their subdivisions enclose and protect vital organs, tissues, and fluids.
Dorsal Cavity
The dorsal cavity consists of two interconnected chambers, the cranial cavity and the vertebral cavity, that protect the central nervous system.
Within the skull is the cranial cavity, the most superior of the body cavities. It contains the brain, which serves as the control center for thoughts, movements, sensations, and other essential processes. The skull’s thick bones provide rigid protection, and cerebrospinal fluid cushions the brain against sudden movements and impacts.
The vertebral or spinal cavity extends along the posterior aspect of the body and houses the spinal cord, the pathway from the brain to the spinal nerves and peripheral organs. This narrow canal extends from the base of the skull to the lower back and is protected by the bones of the vertebral column.
Ventral Cavity
The ventral cavity is located on the anterior, or front, side of the body. It is subdivided into the thoracic cavity superiorly and the abdominopelvic cavity inferiorly, each containing multiple organs.
The thoracic cavity occupies the chest region and is protected by the rib cage. Within it are the two pleural cavities, each containing a lung. Between the pleural cavities lies a space called the mediastinum, through which the esophagus, trachea, and major blood vessels pass. Within the mediastinum is the pericardial cavity, which contains the heart.
The diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle, separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity below.
The abdominopelvic cavity is subdivided into the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity. The abdominal cavity contains most digestive organs, the spleen, and the kidneys. The pelvic cavity contains the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and the rectum, which is the lower part of the large intestine.
Illustrations
The diagrams below are free, open-source resources that illustrate the locations and organization of body cavities. Use them for self-study or to develop your own course content.
Lateral View of the Body Cavities
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Anterior View of the Body Cavities
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Reference and Attributions
NIH – “Chapter 2 Medical Language Related to the Whole Body“.
OpenStax: Anatomy and Physiology – “Anatomical Terminology“. (Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/1-introduction)
Wikipedia – “Body cavity.”