Which two cavities make up the Anterior Cavity?

• A. Cranial and Spinal
• B. Abdominal and Pelvic
• C. Thoracic and Abdominopelvic
• D. Pleural and Pericardial

Answer: (C)

The anterior (ventral) body cavity is made up of two main spaces: the thoracic cavity in the chest and the abdominopelvic cavity extending from the diaphragm to the pelvis. The diaphragm acts as the divider between them. This setup sets the front cavity apart from the dorsal cavities, which are the cranial and spinal. Within the thoracic cavity lie the lungs and heart, while the abdominopelvic cavity houses most of the abdominal and pelvic organs. The other options mix dorsal cavities, or subdivisions within the thoracic or abdominopelvic cavities, but the two principal cavities that constitute the anterior cavity are the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.