Editing Body cavity (section)

==Human body cavities==
The '''dorsal''' (posterior) cavity and the '''ventral''' (anterior) cavity are the largest body compartments.

The [[dorsal body cavity]] includes the [[cranial cavity]], enclosed by the [[Skull#Humans|skull]] and contains the [[Human brain|brain]], and the [[spinal cavity]], enclosed by the [[Vertebral column|spine]], and contains the [[spinal cord]].<ref name=EHRLICH2009>{{Citation|last1=Ehrlich|first1=A.|title=Introduction to Medical Terminology|pages=21–36|year=2009|chapter=The Human Body in Health and Disease|edition=Second|location=Independence, KY|publisher=Delmar Cengage Learning|last2=Schroeder|first2=C.L.}}</ref> 

The [[ventral body cavity]] includes the [[thoracic cavity]], enclosed by the [[ribcage]] and contains the [[lung]]s and [[heart]]; and the [[abdominopelvic cavity]]. The abdominopelvic cavity can be divided into the [[abdominal cavity]], enclosed by the [[ribcage]] and [[human pelvis|pelvis]] and contains the [[kidney]]s, [[ureter]]s, [[stomach]], [[intestines]], [[liver]], [[gallbladder]], and [[pancreas]]; and the [[pelvic cavity]], enclosed by the [[human pelvis|pelvis]] and contains [[urinary bladder|bladder]], [[Human anus|anus]] and [[Human reproductive system|reproductive system]].<ref name=EHRLICH2009 />

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Human body cavities and membranes
|-
! colspan="3" | Name of cavity
! Principal contents
! Membranous lining
|- 
! rowspan="2" |Dorsal body cavity
| colspan="2" |[[Cranial cavity]]
| [[Human brain|Brain]]
| [[Meninges]]
|-
| colspan="2" |[[Vertebral canal]]
| [[Spinal cord]]
| [[Meninges]]
|-
! rowspan="3" |Ventral body cavity
| colspan="2" |[[Thoracic cavity]]
| [[Heart]], [[lungs]]
| [[Pericardium]]<br>[[Pleural cavity]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |Abdominopelvic cavity
| [[Abdominal cavity]]
| [[Digestive organs]], [[spleen]], [[kidney]]s
| [[Peritoneum]]
|-
| [[Pelvic cavity]]
| [[Urinary bladder|Bladder]], [[reproductive organ]]s
| [[Peritoneum]]
|}

=== Ventral body cavity ===
The ventral cavity has two main subdivisions: the thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity. The thoracic cavity is the more superior subdivision of the ventral cavity, and is enclosed by the rib cage. The thoracic cavity contains the [[lung]]s surrounded by the [[pleural cavity]], and the [[heart]] surrounded by the [[pericardial cavity]], located in the [[Mediastinum|mediastinum]]. The [[Thoracic  diaphragm|diaphragm]] forms the floor of the thoracic cavity and separates it from the more inferior abdominopelvic cavity. 

The abdominopelvic cavity is the largest cavity in the body occupying the entire lower half of the trunk. Although no membrane physically divides the abdominopelvic cavity, it can be useful to distinguish between the abdominal cavity, and the pelvic cavity. The abdominal cavity occupies the entire lower half of the trunk, anterior to the spine, and houses the organs of digestion. Just under the abdominal cavity, anterior to the buttocks, is the pelvic cavity. The pelvic cavity is funnel shaped, and is located inferior and anterior to the abdominal cavity, and houses the organs of reproduction.<ref name="Openstax Anatomy & Physiology" />

=== Dorsal body cavity ===

The dorsal body cavity contains the [[cranial cavity]], and the [[spinal cavity]].
The cranial cavity is a large, bean-shaped cavity filling most of the upper skull where the brain is located. The spinal cavity is the very narrow, thread-like cavity running from the cranial cavity down the entire length of the [[spinal cord]].

In the dorsal cavity, the cranial cavity houses the [[Human brain|brain]], and the spinal cavity  encloses the spinal cord. Just as the brain and spinal cord make up a continuous, uninterrupted structure, the cranial and spinal cavities that house them are also continuous. The brain and spinal cord are protected by the bones of the skull and vertebral column and by cerebrospinal fluid, a colorless fluid produced by the brain, which cushions the brain and spinal cord within the dorsal body cavity.<ref name="Openstax Anatomy & Physiology " />