chapter 2
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Body Regions and Major Body Cavities
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J J Introduction
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In the first lab activity you were introduced to various generic terms that indicate locations on
and in the body. These terms are applicable to any animal. In this exercise you will learn terms
to indicate specific regions of the human body, and you will learn about the major cavities
within the human body, where many of the vital internal organs are housed.
I. Body Regions
Objective 1: Identify the specific regions of the body listed on the
following page.
If someone asked you to point to your shoulder, you could certainly fulfill this request. Could
you comply with the request to point to your popliteal region? Sometimes common terms are
properly used in A&P. Often you need to learn new terms in place of the more common terms.
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ACTIVITY 1
Look at Figure 2-1. For each of the body regions below provide a description of the region in
your own words in Table 2-1. The first one has been done for you.
Oral
Cervical
Deltoid
Axillary
Orbital
Buccal
Occipital
Deltoid
Sternal
Pectoral
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Umbilical
Inguinal
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Pubic
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Femoral
Popliteal
Patellar
Digital
©Hayden-McNeil, LLC
B
Figure 2-1. Body regions.
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Sacral
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Lumbar
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Abdominal
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Brachial
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Body Regions and Major Body Cavities
Table 2-1. Body region descriptions.
1.occipital
12. sternal
the back of the head
13. abdominal
3. oral
14. umbilical
4. buccal
15. lumbar
5. cervical
16. sacral
6. deltoid
17. inguinal
7. pectoral
8. axillary
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2. orbital
18. pubic
19. femoral
9. brachial
20. patellar
10. antecubital
21. popliteal
11. digital
22. plantar
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chapter 2
QUESTION
1. Although we have not yet studied the skeletal system, can you identify three of the body
regions with names that match bones in those locations?
II. Major Body Cavities
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Objective 2: Describe the major body cavities and identify various
organs found in each.
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If you have ever cleaned a fish or dissected an animal in science class, you may recall that
when you cut into the abdomen you open a space that contains various organs, such as the
stomach. Cracking open the skull reveals the cavity that contains the brain. Before embarking
upon studies of the major organ systems, we will learn the names and locations of the cavities
in which some of the organs reside. There are two major cavities within the human body: the
dorsal body cavity and the ventral body cavity.
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The dorsal body cavity lies within the skull and within the spine. Although it is one continuous
space, we can divide the dorsal body cavity into two parts: the space inside the skull is the
cranial cavity, and the space inside the spine is the vertebral cavity. The brain occupies the
cranial cavity, and the spinal cord occupies the vertebral cavity.
The ventral body cavity is much larger than the dorsal body cavity, and it contains more
organs. The superior portion of the ventral body cavity is separated from the inferior portion
by the diaphragm. The entire superior portion is called the thoracic cavity, and it is further
subdivided into a medial portion, called the mediastinum, and two lateral portions, called the
pleural cavity. The mediastinum contains the trachea and the esophagus. It also contains yet
another cavity, called the pericardial cavity, which contains the heart. Each of the two pleural
cavities contains one of the lungs.
The inferior portion of the ventral body cavity is called the abdominopelvic cavity. This
cavity also is further subdivided: the superior portion is the abdominal cavity, and the inferior
portion is the pelvic cavity. The abdominal cavity contains many organs, including the
stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, and intestines. The pelvic cavity contains the urinary bladder,
the rectum, and some reproductive organs.
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Body Regions and Major Body Cavities
ACTIVITY 2
Label the diagrams in Figure 2-2 with the names of the appropriate body cavities.
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A. Body cavities—lateral view
-McNeil, LLC
©Hayden
B. Body cavities—anterior view
Figure 2-2. Dorsal and ventral body cavities.
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Fill in the blanks to complete an organizational outline of the major body cavities.
I. Dorsal body cavity
A.The
cavity encloses the brain.
B.The
cavity encloses the spinal cord.
II. Ventral body cavity
1. The
cavity.
cavity is superior to the diaphragm.
contains the esophagus, the trachea, and the pericardial
cavity contains the heart.
3The
cavity contains the lungs.
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cavity is inferior to the diaphragm.
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B. The
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A. The
cavity contains the stomach and intestines.
2. The
cavity contains the urinary bladder and the rectum.
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1. The
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III. Membranes That Line the Major Body Cavities
Objective 3: Identify the membranes that line the major body
cavities.
Organs in the dorsal body cavity are wrapped in membranes called the meninges. You will
study these membranes in more detail when you study the nervous system later in the semester.
Organs in the ventral body cavity are wrapped in two-layered membranes called serous
membranes. Each organ is wrapped in a thin layer of membrane referred to as the visceral
serosa. The inside of the body cavity wall is lined in a thin layer of membrane referred to as
the parietal serosa. Between the visceral serosa and the parietal serosa is serous fluid, which
lubricates the membranes.
The serous membranes are given specific names according to the specific parts of the ventral
body cavity in which they are found. The membranes in the pericardial cavity are the visceral
pericardium and parietal pericardium. The membranes in the pleural cavities are the visceral
pleura and the parietal pleura. The membranes in the abdominopelvic cavity are the visceral
peritoneum and the parietal peritoneum. Additional membranes, called mesenteries, hold
the organs of the abdominopelvic cavity in place, attaching them to each other and to the
inside of the body wall.
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Body Regions and Major Body Cavities
ACTIVITY 3
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Obtain a roll of clear tape and a bean. Imagine the shaded area below represents a portion of
the inside of the abdominal cavity wall, and imagine the bean represents the stomach. Tear a
piece of tape about three or four inches long. Fold the middle section of the tape around the
bean, stick the tape together for about half an inch, then stick the free ends of the tape to the
shaded area on the page. Your instructor should demonstrate this for you.
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QUESTIONS
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2. Refer to Activity 3, and be as specific as possible with your answers.
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What does the tape attached to the shaded portion of the page represent?
What does the tape that surrounds the bean represent?
What does the section of the tape stuck together between the page and the bean represent?
3. Pleurisy is a condition in which the serous membranes associated with the lungs become
inflamed. Inflamed serous membranes typically produce less serous fluid than normal, and
breathing becomes painful when a person has pleurisy. Briefly explain why serous fluid is
particularly important for the lungs.
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4. Why are mesenteries not necessary in the pleural or pericardial cavities?
CLEAN UP
• Return rolls of tape and unused beans to their proper places.
• Throw away all trash.
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• Leave your tables clean (wipe them down if necessary) and push in your stools before
leaving.
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