Term
dorsal cavity
(one of two of the major cavities in the body) |
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Definition
| subdivided into cranial and spinal cavities |
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Term
ventral cavity
(one of two of the major cavities in the body) |
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Definition
| subdivided into thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities |
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Term
cranial cavity
(in dorsal cavity) |
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Definition
formed by the skull
contains and protects the brain
connected to spinal |
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Term
spinal cavity
aka vertebral canal
(in dorsal cavity) |
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Definition
protects the spinal cord in a bony cavity created by the vertebrae
connected to cranial |
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Term
thoracic cavity
(in ventral cavity) |
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Definition
made up of three areas:
pleural cavities
pericardial cavity
mediastinum |
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Term
abdominopelvic cavity
(in ventral cavity) |
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Definition
made up of two areas:
abdominal cavity
pelvic cavity |
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Term
pleural cavities
(in thoracic cavity within ventral cavity) |
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Definition
thin fluid filled space between the two pulmonary pleurae (visceral and parietal) of each lung
the two pleural cavities each contain a lung |
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Term
pericardial cavity
(in thoracic cavity within ventral cavity) |
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Definition
potential space formed between the two layers of serous pericardium around the heart
contains the heart and is medial to the pleural cavities |
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Term
mediastinum
(in thoracic cavity within ventral cavity) |
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Definition
membranous partition between two body cavities or two parts of an organ
contains the esophagus, trachea, thymus gland, aorta, and inferior vena cavae |
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Term
serous membrane
(lines the ventral cavity) |
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Definition
helps reduce friction with the organs when they rub against each other or the walls of the cavities themselves
covered by a layer of fluid called serous fluid |
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Term
serous fluid
(lines the ventral cavity) |
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Definition
layer of fluid covering serous membrane
secreted by the epithelium of the serous membrane |
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Term
pleura
(in thoracic cavity within ventral cavity) |
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Definition
| two-layer serous membrane |
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Term
parietal pleura
(in thoracic cavity within ventral cavity) |
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Definition
| outer layer of the two-layer serous membrane called the pleura |
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Term
visceral pleura
(in thoracic cavity within ventral cavity) |
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Definition
| inner layer of the two-layer serous membrane called the pleura |
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Term
abdominal cavity
(in abdominopelvic cavity within ventral cavity) |
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Definition
includes crucial organs such as the lower part of the esophagus, the stomach, most of the small intestine, colon, rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and bladder
bound by the diaphragm, the body wall, and the pelvic cavity
superior to the pelvic cavity |
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Term
pelvic cavity
(in abdominopelvic cavity within ventral cavity) |
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Definition
bounded by the bones of pelvis
holds the urinary bladder, ureters, urethra, the lower part of the large intestine, and part of the small intestine
also houses the female reproductive organs and some of the male reproductive organs
surrounded by the abdominal cavity, sacrum, and pelvis
inferior to the abdominal cavity |
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Term
peritoneum
(in abdominopelvic cavity within ventral cavity) |
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Definition
| two-layer serous membrane |
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Term
parietal peritoneum
(in abdominopelvic cavity within ventral cavity) |
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Definition
| outer layer of the two-layer serous membrane called the peritoneum |
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Term
visceral peritoneum
(in abdominopelvic cavity within ventral cavity) |
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Definition
| inner layer of the two-layer serous membrane called the peritoneum |
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