Which cavity is subdivided into the abdominal and pelvic cavities?

• A. Thoracic cavity
• B. Cranial cavity
• C. Spinal cavity
• D. Abdominopelvic cavity

Answer: (D)

The ability to distinguish how body cavities are organized hinges on recognizing which cavity spans from the diaphragm to the pelvic floor and is divided into two parts. The abdominopelvic cavity is a single ventral cavity that extends from the diaphragm down to the pelvic brim and pelvic floor. It is traditionally subdivided into an upper abdominal cavity, which houses most of the digestive organs and others like the spleen and kidneys, and a lower pelvic cavity, which contains the reproductive organs, urinary bladder, and the lower part of the digestive tract. The pelvic brim acts as the boundary between these two regions.

Other cavities occupy different regions and aren’t divided in this way. The thoracic cavity sits above the diaphragm and includes the pericardial and pleural spaces; the cranial cavity houses the brain; and the spinal cavity runs within the vertebral column. Thus, the cavity that is subdivided into abdominal and pelvic components is the abdominopelvic cavity.