Body Cavities

Front 1

Abdominal Cavity - belly, venter, celiac, laparo, or flank

Back 1

Located between the diaphragm and the pelvic organs. Contains the stomach, small intestine, most of the large intestine, appendix, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands, upper portion of the uterus, and the peritoneum.

Front 2

Pelvic Cavity

Back 2

Located below the abdominal cavity. Contains part of the large intestine, rectum, urinary bladder, and the internal reproductive organs.

Front 3

Thoracic Cavity - chest

Back 3

Located between the neck and the diaphragm. Is divided into three spaces; the left pleural space, the right pleural space, and the mediastinum.

Front 4

Mediastinum

Back 4

Middle part of the chest behind the sternum. Contains the heart, large blood vessels, and the esophagus

Front 5

Pleural Spaces

Back 5

Contain the lungs.

Front 6

Cranial Cavity

Back 6

Small but important. Contains the brain and related structures.

Front 7

Vertebral Cavity

Back 7

Contains the spinal cord and extends from the base of the cranium to a level corresponding with the bottom of the abdominal cavity.

Front 8

Dorsal Cavity

Back 8

Located toward the back of the body.

Front 9

Ventral Cavity

Back 9

Located in the front of the body. There are three: Thoracic, Abdominal, and Pelvic.

Front 10

Cavum

Back 10

hollow spaces

Front 11

Torso or Trunk

Back 11

Terms relating to the main part of the body. Contains all of the Ventral Cavities and the Vertebral Cavity.

Front 12

Potential Cavities

Back 12

Peritoneal Space
Retroperitoneal Space
Pleural Cavity

Front 13

Peritoneal Space

Back 13

Located in the abdominal cavity, it stretches around all of the abdominal wall and organs.

Front 14

Retroperitoneal Space

Back 14

Located behind the peritoneum.

Front 15

Pleural Cavity (Space)

Back 15

Space between the inner lining of the wall of the chest inside the ribs and the outer lining of the lungs.