Chapter 1 - Atlas A.3 - Study Guide - Assess Your Learning Outcomes - Page 38: 1

The locations, contents, lining membranes, and main viscera contained in each of the mentioned body cavities: 1. **Cranial Cavity**: - **Location**: The cranial cavity is situated within the skull. - **Contents**: The cranial cavity primarily contains and protects the brain. - **Lining Membrane**: The brain is surrounded by three protective layers: the dura mater (outermost), the arachnoid mater (middle layer), and the pia mater (innermost). 2. **Vertebral Canal (Spinal Cavity)**: - **Location**: The vertebral canal runs through the vertebral column (spinal column) formed by the vertebrae. - **Contents**: The vertebral canal contains the spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid. - **Lining Membrane**: The spinal cord is surrounded by three protective layers similar to those in the cranial cavity: the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. 3. **Thoracic Cavity**: - **Location**: The thoracic cavity is located within the chest, between the neck and the diaphragm. - **Contents**: The thoracic cavity houses the heart, lungs, great vessels (such as the aorta), esophagus, and thymus gland. - **Lining Membrane**: The thoracic cavity is lined by the pleura, which has two layers: the parietal pleura (lining the chest wall) and the visceral pleura (covering the lungs). The heart is encased in the pericardium, which also has a parietal and visceral layer. 4. **Abdominopelvic Cavity**: - **Location**: The abdominopelvic cavity is the largest cavity in the body and is divided into two regions: the abdominal cavity (above the pelvic brim) and the pelvic cavity (below the pelvic brim). - **Contents**: - Abdominal Cavity: Contains various abdominal organs such as the stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, small intestine, and most of the large intestine. - Pelvic Cavity: Contains reproductive organs (uterus, ovaries, testes), urinary bladder, lower part of the large intestine, and rectum. - **Lining Membrane**: The abdominal and pelvic cavities are lined by a serous membrane called the peritoneum. The peritoneum has a parietal layer (lining the abdominal and pelvic walls) and a visceral layer (covering abdominal and pelvic organs). These body cavities play essential roles in protecting and housing vital organs while allowing for necessary movement and function. The lining membranes, such as the meninges in the cranial and vertebral canals and the pleura and peritoneum in the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities, help reduce friction and facilitate organ movement. Understanding the locations, contents, and lining membranes of these cavities is crucial in anatomy and medicine for diagnosing and treating various conditions and diseases.

The locations, contents, lining membranes, and main viscera contained in each of the mentioned body cavities: 1. **Cranial Cavity**: - **Location**: The cranial cavity is situated within the skull. - **Contents**: The cranial cavity primarily contains and protects the brain. - **Lining Membrane**: The brain is surrounded by three protective layers: the dura mater (outermost), the arachnoid mater (middle layer), and the pia mater (innermost). 2. **Vertebral Canal (Spinal Cavity)**: - **Location**: The vertebral canal runs through the vertebral column (spinal column) formed by the vertebrae. - **Contents**: The vertebral canal contains the spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid. - **Lining Membrane**: The spinal cord is surrounded by three protective layers similar to those in the cranial cavity: the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. 3. **Thoracic Cavity**: - **Location**: The thoracic cavity is located within the chest, between the neck and the diaphragm. - **Contents**: The thoracic cavity houses the heart, lungs, great vessels (such as the aorta), esophagus, and thymus gland. - **Lining Membrane**: The thoracic cavity is lined by the pleura, which has two layers: the parietal pleura (lining the chest wall) and the visceral pleura (covering the lungs). The heart is encased in the pericardium, which also has a parietal and visceral layer. 4. **Abdominopelvic Cavity**: - **Location**: The abdominopelvic cavity is the largest cavity in the body and is divided into two regions: the abdominal cavity (above the pelvic brim) and the pelvic cavity (below the pelvic brim). - **Contents**: - Abdominal Cavity: Contains various abdominal organs such as the stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, small intestine, and most of the large intestine. - Pelvic Cavity: Contains reproductive organs (uterus, ovaries, testes), urinary bladder, lower part of the large intestine, and rectum. - **Lining Membrane**: The abdominal and pelvic cavities are lined by a serous membrane called the peritoneum. The peritoneum has a parietal layer (lining the abdominal and pelvic walls) and a visceral layer (covering abdominal and pelvic organs). These body cavities play essential roles in protecting and housing vital organs while allowing for necessary movement and function. The lining membranes, such as the meninges in the cranial and vertebral canals and the pleura and peritoneum in the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities, help reduce friction and facilitate organ movement. Understanding the locations, contents, and lining membranes of these cavities is crucial in anatomy and medicine for diagnosing and treating various conditions and diseases.