Key takeaways

Dorsal body cavity

The dorsal body cavity is located in the posterior aspect of the body. It has two subdivisions known as the cranial cavity and the spinal cavity.

The cranial cavity is the space inside the skull. The brain is well protected as it is found within the cranial cavity.

The spinal cavity extends from the cranial cavity, nearly to the end of the vertebral column. The spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae which enclose the spinal cavity.

Ventral body cavity

The ventral body cavity is located in the anterior aspect of the body. It is much larger than the dorsal cavity and contains all the structures within the chest and abdomen. The ventral body cavity is divided into the thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity.

The thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominopelvic cavity by the diaphragm. The thoracic cavity is superior to the abdominopelvic cavity and houses the vital organs such as the heart and lungs. These are protected by the rib cage.

The abdominopelvic cavity is inferior to the thoracic cavity, and can be further subdivided into the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity. The abdominal cavity houses the stomach, liver, intestines and other digestive organs. The pelvic cavity houses the reproductive organs, bladder and rectum. There is no physical structure separating the abdominal cavity from the pelvic cavity.

Key takeaways

• Anatomy is the study of structure. • Anatomical terminology is relative and assumes that the body is in the anatomical position. • Directional terms and landmarks are used to identify the specific locations of structures. • The body and its structures may be subdivided into three sections known as the sagittal, frontal and transverse sections. • The dorsal and ventral cavities are body cavities that offer protection to the organs and structures within them.