Organization of the

Human Body
Body cavities, membranes, body regions

Dr. Samawiya Farooq

Where are the organs of the body located?

 Human body is a complex structure composed of many

parts

 These parts are divided into

 Cavities
 Membranes within cavities
 Divisions
 Axial Portions
 Head
 Neck
 Trunk

 Appendicular Portions
 Upper limbs
 Lower limbs
 How is the human
body divided?

Into axial and appendicular portions

Axial – head neck trunk
Appendicular – upper and lower extremities
 Axial Portions
 Cranial Cavity

 Vertebral canal

 Thoracic Cavity
 Organs are called viscera

 Abdominopelvic Cavity
 Organs are called viscera
 Body Cavities
 The Axial portion of the body is then further
divided into two major cavities – the dorsal
cavity and the ventral cavity
 Dorsal cavity protects the nervous system, and is
divided into two subdivisions: Cranial cavity &
Vertebral cavity

 Ventral cavity houses the internal organs

(viscera), and is divided into two subdivisions: -
Thoracic and Abdominopelvic cavities
Body Cavities

Ventr
al
Cavit
y

Figure 1.9a
 Dorsal Body Cavities
 Dorsal cavity
 Cranial cavity is within the skull and encases the
brain
 Vertebral cavity runs within the vertebral column and
encases the spinal cord
Body Cavities

Ventr
al
Cavit
y

Figure 1.9a
 Ventral Body Cavities
 Thoracic cavity is subdivided into pleural
cavities, the mediastinum, and the
pericardial cavity
 Pleural cavities – each houses a lung
 Mediastinum – contains the pericardial
cavity, and surrounds the remaining thoracic
organs
 Pericardial cavity – encloses the heart
 Body Cavities Figure 1.9b
Thoracic cavity
  What does the
thoracic cavity
contain?

Pleural cavities, mediastinum, & pericardial cavities

Plerual cavities – contains the lungs
Mediastinum – pericardial cavity, esophagus, trachea,
& thymus
Pericardial cavity – contains the heart
 Ventral Body Cavities
 The abdominopelvic cavity is separated from
the superior thoracic cavity by the dome-
shaped diaphragm
 It is composed of two subdivisions

 Abdominal cavity – contains the stomach,

intestines, spleen, liver, kidneys, gallbladder
and other organs
 Pelvic cavity – lies within the pelvis enclosed
by hip bones and contains the bladder,
reproductive organs, and rectum
 Body Cavities Figure 1.9b
Thoracic cavity
  What does the
abdominopelvic
cavity contain?

Abdominal & Pelvic cavities

Abdominal cavity– contains stomach, liver, spleen,
gallbladder, kidneys, small & large intestines
Pelvic cavity – contains the terminal portion of the
large intestine, urinary bladder, internal reproductive
organs
 Ventral Body Cavity Membranes
 Parietal pleura lines internal body walls

 Visceral pleura covers the internal organs

 Serous fluid separates the parietal and visceral pleura

 Potential space between the membranes is called the

pleural cavity
Ventral Body Cavity Membranes

Figure 1.10a
 Pericardial Membranes
 Visceral pericardium – covers the heart

 Parietal pericardium – lines the

mediastinum
 Paricardial cavity – potential space
between the membranes
Ventral Body Cavity Membranes

Figure 1.10b
 Peritoneal membranes
 Lines the abdominopelvic cavity

 Parietal peritonium lines the wall of the abdominal cavity

 Visceral peritonium covers the organs of the abdominal

cavity

 Pertioneal cavity is the potential space between the

membranes
  What is the difference
between parietal
membranes and visceral
membranes?

Parietal membrane – lines the walls of the cavities

Visceral membrane – covers the organs
 Cavities within the Head
 Oral and digestive – mouth and cavities of the digestive
organs

 Nasal –located within and posterior to the nose

 Orbital – house the eyes

 Middle ear – contain bones (ossicles) that transmit

sound vibrations

 Synovial – joint cavities

Regional Terms of the Body

Number of terms designate body regions.

Regional Terms: Anterior View

Figure 1.7a
Regional Terms: Posterior View

Figure 1.7b
 Abdominopelvic Regions

Umbilical
Epigastric
Hypogastric
Right and left iliac or
inguinal
Right and left lumbar
Right and left
hypochondriac

Figure 1.11a
Organs of the Abdominopelvic Regions

Figure 1.11b