Human body cavities
Human Body Cavities
The human body is divided into several cavities, each serving a specific purpose in protecting and housing vital organs. Understanding the different body cavities is essential for medical professionals to diagnose and treat various health conditions effectively.
1. Dorsal Body Cavity The dorsal body cavity is located along the posterior (back) side of the body and is divided into two main cavities:
- Cranial Cavity: This cavity houses the brain and is protected by the skull. It is crucial for protecting the delicate brain tissue from external trauma.
- Vertebral Cavity: Also known as the spinal cavity, this cavity surrounds the spinal cord and provides protection to the spinal cord and nerves.
2. Ventral Body Cavity The ventral body cavity is located along the anterior (front) side of the body and is divided into two main cavities:
- Thoracic Cavity: This cavity is enclosed by the rib cage and contains the heart, lungs, and other thoracic organs. It is essential for respiration and circulation.
- Abdominopelvic Cavity: This cavity is further divided into the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity. The abdominal cavity houses organs such as the stomach, liver, and intestines, while the pelvic cavity contains reproductive organs and the bladder.
3. Other Body Cavities In addition to the major body cavities mentioned above, there are several other smaller cavities that play important roles in the body's overall function:
- Oral Cavity: Also known as the mouth, this cavity is responsible for ingestion, digestion, and speech.
- Nasal Cavity: Located within the nose, this cavity filters, warms, and humidifies the air we breathe.
- Orbital Cavities: These cavities house the eyeballs and protect them from external damage.
- Middle Ear Cavities: These cavities contain the small bones of the middle ear and play a crucial role in hearing.
Understanding the structure and function of the human body cavities is essential for healthcare professionals to provide accurate diagnoses and treatments for various medical conditions.
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD