Abdominal Cavity

part of the secondary body cavity (coelom) of vertebrates; contains the viscera except for the kidneys, the heart and, in mammals, the lungs. In the adult stage of lower vertebrates, the canals uniting the abdominal cavity with the pericardial cavity are preserved. In many fish the abdominal cavity communicates with the external environment through abdominal pores. In cyclostomes and fish, the pericardial cavity is located in front of the abdominal cavity; in terrestrial vertebrates it moves back and opens into the abdominal cavity. In mammals, because of the formation of the diaphragm, the pericardial cavity and the anterior portion of the abdominal cavity (which contains the lungs) are separated from the rest of the abdominal cavity. In the majority of mammals, the abdominal cavity extends through the inguinal canal to the region of the scrotum. If, with age, the inguinal canal closes (for example, in carnivores and primates), the abdominal cavity becomes completely separated from the scrotal cavity. In the embryo the abdominal cavity is formed by the joining of paired coelomic cavities, which lie between the laminae of the lateral plate. The parietal peritoneum arises from the external (parietal) laminae of the lateral plate. The visceral peritoneum—that is, the serous membrane of the intestines and other internal organs—is formed from the visceral laminae (splanchnopleures); the mesentery is formed by the fusion of these layers. In cyclostomes, the abdominal cavity is lined with ciliated epithelium; in all other vertebrates it is lined with squamous epithelium.

In man the abdominal cavity, or stomach cavity, is bounded by the ventrolateral muscles of the abdomen, the lumbar vertebrae, the quadratus lumborum muscles, the diaphragm, and, below, the cavity of the pelvis major and pelvis minor. In the abdominal cavity are located the gastrointestinal tract (from the abdominal portion of the esophagus to the rectum), liver, pancreas, spleen, adrenal glands, and urogenital organs. Most of the unpaired abdominal organs are covered by the peritoneum, which marks the boundary of the peritoneal cavity (part of the abdominal cavity). The peritoneum in the region of the posterior wall of the abdominal cavity separates the peritoneal cavity from the retroperitoneal space, in which the paired abdominal organs (kidneys, adrenals, and ureters) and large blood vessels and nerve ganglia—surrounded by fatty tissue—are located.

REFERENCE

Sinel’nikov, R. D. Atlas anatomii cheloveka, 2nd ed., vol. 2. Moscow, 1963.

abdominal cavity

cavity

[kav´ĭ-te] 1. a hollow or space, or a potential space, within the body or one of its organs; called also caverna and cavum.2. the lesion produced by dental caries.

Cavities in the body. From Applegate, 2000.abdominal cavity the cavity of the body between the diaphragm above and the pelvis below, containing the abdominal organs.absorption c's cavities in developing compact bone due to osteoclastic erosion, usually occurring in the areas laid down first.amniotic cavity the closed sac between the embryo and the amnion, containing the amniotic fluid.cranial cavity the space enclosed by the bones of the cranium.glenoid cavity a depression in the lateral angle of the scapula for articulation with the humerus.marrow cavity (medullary cavity) the cavity that contains marrow" >bone marrow in the diaphysis of a long bone; called also medullary canal.nasal cavity the proximal portion of the passages of the respiratory system, extending from the nares to the pharynx; it is divided into left and right halves by the nasal septum and is separated from the oral cavity by the hard palate.oral cavity the cavity of the mouth, bounded by the jaw bones and associated structures (muscles and mucosa).pelvic cavity the space within the walls of the pelvis.pericardial cavity the potential space between the epicardium and the parietal layer of the serous pericardium.peritoneal cavity the potential space between the parietal and the visceral peritoneum.pleural cavity the potential space between the two layers of pleura.pulp cavity the pulp-filled central chamber in the crown of a tooth.cavity of septum pellucidum the median cleft between the two laminae of the septum pellucidum. Called also pseudocele, pseudocoele, and fifth ventricle.serous cavity a coelomic cavity, like that enclosed by the pericardium, peritoneum, or pleura, not communicating with the outside of the body and lined with a serous membrane, i.e., one which secretes a serous fluid.tension cavity cavities of the lung in which the air pressure is greater than that of the atmosphere.thoracic cavity the portion of the ventral body cavity situated between the neck and the diaphragm; it contains the pleural cavity.tympanic cavity the major portion of the middle ear, consisting of a narrow air-filled cavity in the temporal bone that contains the auditory ossicles and communicates with the mastoid air cells and the mastoid antrum by means of the aditus and the nasopharynx by means of the auditory tube. The middle ear and the tympanic cavity were formerly regarded as being synonymous.uterine cavity the flattened space within the uterus communicating proximally on either side with the fallopian tubes and below with the vagina.

ab·dom·i·nal cav·i·ty

[TA] the space bounded by the abdominal walls, the diaphragm, and the pelvis; it usually is arbitrarily separated from the pelvic cavity by a plane across the superior aperture of the pelvis; however, it may include the pelvis with the abdomen (see abdominopelvic cavity); within the cavitas lie the greater part of the organs of digestion, the spleen, the kidneys, and the suprarenal glands. Synonym(s): cavitas abdominalis [TA], cavum abdominis, enterocele (2)

abdominal cavity

n. The space bounded by the abdominal walls, diaphragm, and pelvis and containing the major organs of digestion, the spleen, the kidneys, and the adrenal glands.

abdominal cavity

A body space bounded superiorly by the diaphragm, laterally by the abdominal wall, inferiorly by the pelvis; the AC is separated from the pelvic cavity by an imaginary plane that passes across the superior opening of the pelvis.

Content
GI tract except oesophagus and anus, kidneys, spleen, adrenal glands.

abdominal cavity

Anatomy A body space bounded superiorly by the diaphragm, laterally by the abdominal wall, inferiorly by the pelvis; the AC is arbitrarily separated from the pelvic cavity by an imaginary plane that passes across the superior opening of the pelvis Content GI tract except esophagus and anus, kidneys, spleen, adrenal glands

ab·dom·i·nal cav·i·ty

(ab-dom'i-năl kav'i-tē) [TA] The space bounded by the abdominal walls, the diaphragm, and the pelvis; it usually is arbitrarily separated from the pelvic cavity by a plane across the superior aperture of the pelvis; however, it may include the pelvis with the abdomen (see abdominopelvic cavity); withinthe cavity lie the greater part of the organsof digestion, spleen, kidneys, and suprarenal glands.
Synonym(s): enterocele (2) .

abdominal cavity

Abdominal Cavity

Abdominal Cavity

REFERENCE

abdominal cavity

cavity

ab·dom·i·nal cav·i·ty

abdominal cavity

abdominal cavity

abdominal cavity

ab·dom·i·nal cav·i·ty

abdominal cavity

Synonyms for abdominal cavity

noun the cavity containing the major viscera

Synonyms

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