body cavity
Hollow inside organisms
A body cavity is an internal space within an organism that contains and protects organs.
In humans, the major body cavities include the cranial cavity (housing the brain), thoracic cavity (heart and lungs), and abdominal cavity (digestive organs).
The term appears frequently in anatomy, medicine, and biology: The surgeon accessed the body cavity through a small incision.
Central body cavity
- abdomenTorso's lower cavity
- pelvisBony basin at waist
- craniumSkull bone structure
- peritoneumMembrane lining the abdomen
pleura · mediastinum · pericardium · retroperitoneal · viscera · mesentery · ventral · dorsal
Thin tissue sheet
- liningInterior fabric layer
- peritoneumMembrane lining the abdomen
- pleuraMembrane around lungs
- pericardiumMembranous cardiac enclosure
meninges · mucosa · serosa · fascia · enclosure · containment · cushioning · lubrication
Abdominal organs collectively
- intestinesCoiled digestive organs
- lungsRespiratory chest organs
- heartCirculatory system's pump
- liverAbdominal detoxifying organ
kidneys · stomach · spleen · bladder · uterus · brain · diaphragm · esophagus
Internal organ examination
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- CT scanTomographic diagnostic imaging
- MRIMagnetic body imaging
- laparoscopyMinimally invasive abdominal examination
imaging · fluoroscopy · X-ray · biopsy · cytology · radiography · pathology · histology
Controlled cut into tissue
- laparotomyAbdominal cavity access cut
- thoracotomySurgical chest wall opening
- craniotomySurgical skull removal procedure
- anesthesiaInduced loss of feeling
scalpel · suture · hemostasis · dissection · retractor · drainage · irrigation · resection
thorax
Central body cavity
peritoneum · pleura · mediastinum · pericardium · retroperitoneal · viscera · mesentery · ventral · dorsal · thoracic
membrane
Thin tissue sheet
- liningInterior fabric layer
- peritoneumMembrane lining the abdomen
- pleuraMembrane around lungs
pericardium · meninges · mucosa · serosa · fascia · enclosure · containment · cushioning · lubrication · barrier
viscera
Abdominal organs collectively
- intestinesCoiled digestive organs
- lungsRespiratory chest organs
- heartCirculatory system's pump
liver · kidneys · stomach · spleen · bladder · uterus · brain · diaphragm · esophagus · trachea
endoscopy
Internal organ examination
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- CT scanTomographic diagnostic imaging
- MRIMagnetic body imaging
laparoscopy · imaging · fluoroscopy · X-ray · biopsy · cytology · radiography · pathology · histology · lesion
incision
Controlled cut into tissue
- laparotomyAbdominal cavity access cut
- thoracotomySurgical chest wall opening
- craniotomySurgical skull removal procedure
anesthesia · scalpel · suture · hemostasis · dissection · retractor · drainage · irrigation · resection · debridement
- anatomybrain, heart, bones, liver, stomach
- body cavitiesspinal canal, posterior chamber, ventricle, ventricles, amniotic sac
- dissectionscalpel, cadaver, incision, forceps, specimen
- body planbilateral symmetry, radial symmetry, segmentation, coelom, ectoderm
- worm anatomysetae, clitellum, segments, coelom, bristles
- invertebrate anatomyantennae, exoskeleton, gills, ganglia, nerve cord
body cavityparenchyma
Functional tissue of organs
connective tissue · cartilage · muscle mass · muscle tissue · bone