cavity
(kav'ĭt-ē 
)
[L. cavitas, hollow]
- A hollow space, e.g., a body organ or the hole in a tooth produced by caries.
- A dental cavity; caries.
abdominal c.The superior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity (between the diaphragm and pelvis). It is bordered superiorly by the thoracic diaphragm and inferiorly by the pelvic inlet. It is lined with a serous membrane (the peritoneum) and contains the stomach with the inferior portion of the esophagus, the small and large intestines (except the sigmoid colon and rectum), liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, suprarenal gland s, kidneys, and ureters.
SEE: abdomen; abdominal quadrants for illus.
articular c.The synovial cavity of a joint.
body c.1Any hollow space within the body.
SEE: illus.
2A hidden body space that is accessible from the outside, e.g., rectum or vagina. The rectum and /or vagina are the body cavities meant in a “body cavity search” (for contraband ).3Any of the derivatives of the coelom, i.e., the pericardial, peritoneal, and plural sacs.SEE: coelom.
cranial c.The cavity of the skull, containing the brain.
dorsal c.The cavity composed of the cranial and spinal cavities.
SEE: body cavity for illus.
laryngeal c.The hollow inside the larynx from its inlet at the laryngopharynx to the beginning of the trachea. It has three segments (from top to bottom): vestibule of the larynx, ventricle of the larynx, infraglottic cavity.
lesser peritoneal c.Omental bursa.
medullary c.The marrow-filled space in a bone.
nasal c.One of two cavities between the floor of the cranium and the roof of the mouth, opening to the nose anteriorly and the nasopharynx posteriorly. Its lining of ciliated epithelium warms and moistens inhaled air, and traps dust and pathogens on mucus that are then swept toward the pharynx. The nasal septum separates the nasal cavities. The olfactory receptors are in the upper part of each cavity. The paranasal sinuses open into the meatus below the conchae. The orifices of the frontal, anterior ethmoidal, and maxillary sinuses are in the middle meatus. The orifices of the posterior ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses are in the superior meatus. The nasal mucosa is highly vascular; blood is supplied by the maxillary arteries from the external carotid arteries and by the ethmoidal arteries from the internal carotid arteries.
SEE: illus.
oral c.The space inside the teeth and gums that is filled by the tongue when the mouth is closed and relaxed. SYN: buccal cavity.
pelvic c.The bony hollow formed by the innominate bones, the sacrum, and the coccyx. The major pelvic cavity lies between the iliac fossae and above the iliopectineal lines. The minor pelvic cavity lies below the iliopectineal lines.
SEE: pelvis.
pericardial c.The potential space between the epicardium and the parietal pericardium.
SEE: pericardia friction rub; pericarditis.
peritoneal c.The potential space between the parietal peritoneum, which lines the abdominal wall, and the visceral peritoneum, which forms the surface layer of the visceral organs. It contains serous fluid.
pleural c.The potential space between the parietal pleura that lines the thoracic cavity and the visceral pleura that covers the lungs. It contains serous fluid that prevents friction.
pleuroperitoneal c.The ventral body cavity.
SEE: body cavity for illus.; coelom.
pulp c.The cavity in a tooth containing blood vessels and nerve endings.
resonating c.The anatomic intensifiers of the human voice, including the upper portion of the larynx, pharynx, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and oral cavity.
serous c.The space between two layers of serous membrane, e.g., the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities.
spinal c.The cavity that contains the spinal cord.
SEE: body cavity for illus.
thoracic c.The part of the ventral cavity above the diaphragm, the domed muscle that separates it from the abdominal cavity; it is enclosed by the chest wall. The thoracic viscera include the pleural membranes that surround the lungs, the mediastinum between the lungs, which contains the heart and pericardial membranes, the thoracic aorta, pulmonary artery and veins, vena cavae, thymus gland , lymph nodes, trachea, bronchi, esophagus, and thoracic duct.
SEE: illus.
uterine c.The hollow space inside the body of the uterus.
ventral c.The body cavity composed of the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities.
SEE: body cavity for illus.
visceral c.The body cavity containing the viscera, i.e., the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis.