The cranial cavity is the anterior portion of the dorsal cavity consisting of the space inside the skull. This cavity contains the brain, the meninges of the brain, and cerebrospinal fluid. The vertebral cavity is the posterior portion of the dorsal cavity and contains the structures within the vertebral column.
These include the spinal cord, the meninges of the spinal cord, and the fluid-filled spaces between them. This is the most narrow of all body cavities, sometimes described as threadlike. The ventral cavity, the interior space in the front of the body, contains many different organ systems.
The organs within the ventral cavity are also called viscera. The ventral cavity has anterior and posterior portions divided by the diaphragm, a sheet of skeletal muscle found beneath the lungs. The thoracic cavity is the anterior ventral body cavity found within the rib cage in the torso.
It houses the primary organs of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, such as the heart and lungs, but also includes organs from other systems, such as the esophagus and the thymus gland. The thoracic cavity is lined by two types of mesothelium, a type of membrane tissue that lines the ventral cavity: the pleura lining of the lungs, and the pericadium lining of the heart. The abdominoplevic cavity is the posterior ventral body cavity found beneath the thoracic cavity and diaphragm.
It is generally divided into the abdominal and pelvic cavities. The abdominal cavity is not contained within bone and houses many organs of the digestive and renal systems, as well as some organs of the endocrine system, such as the adrenal glands.
The pelvic cavity is contained within the pelvis and houses the bladder and reproductive system. The abdominopelvic cavity is lined by a type of mesothelium called the peritoneum. Learning Objectives Describe the major cavities of the human body. Key Points The dorsal cavity contains the primary organs of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.
The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity. Nerve injury-induced diaphragmatic weakness can result in shortness of breath, especially when lying down. Management may require medication, surgery, rehabilitation, or support with mechanically assisted breathing. Lung disease, especially COPD , can cause weakness of the diaphragm. This happens through a progressive process that involves a number of contributing factors.
COPD results in hyperinflated lungs that physically push on the diaphragm. The whole muscle becomes flattened and its mobility declines. Over time, the cells of the diaphragm are altered due to excessive strain, causing them to lose the ability to function with maximal strength. Chronic oxygen deprivation due to COPD also damages these cells. The result of COPD-induced diaphragmatic weakness is worsening shortness of breath.
Treatment of COPD can help slow down the damage to the diaphragm. If oxygen levels are affected, treatment with supplemental oxygen may be necessary. Tumors can spread to the diaphragm or may take up space in the chest or abdominal cavity, placing physical pressure on the diaphragm and interfering with its ability to function.
For example, mesothelioma —a cancer of the pleura lining of the lungs —can spread to the diaphragm. Lung cancer , lymphoma , and stomach cancer are other types of cancer that may affect the diaphragm.
The symptoms can be gradual or abrupt, and may include shortness of breath, pain with breathing, or loss of consciousness. Evaluation of the diaphragm can include a variety of tests tailored to the suspected medical problem. Imaging tests such as chest or abdominal computerized tomography CT , magnetic resonance imaging MRI , or ultrasound may identify anatomical variations or tumors.
A hiatal hernia diagnosis may include tests like an upper endoscopy or a barium swallow , which evaluate the structure of the gastrointestinal system. And COPD-associated diaphragmatic problems may be assessed with breathing tests like spirometry or pulmonary function tests.
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S Kanwal Naveen S. Related Articles. Paradoxical Breathing: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment.
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