In addition to the large cavities, there are several smaller body cavities. The kidneys, for example, are sometimes said to lie within the
retroabdominal cavity, since they lie somewhat behind the main portion of the abdominal cavity and are separated from the rest of the abdominal organs by layers of connective tissue.
In the head, the
oral cavity contains the teeth and the tongue. The
nasal cavity is located within the nose and contains several air-filled
sinuses. The
orbital cavities contain the eyes. The
middle ear cavities contain the bones of the middle portion of the ears.
Where two movable bones come together to form an
articulation (
joint), a fluid-filled
synovial cavity separates them. The tough
synovial membranes that surround a synovial cavity prevent the bones from coming into direct contact and damaging each other, and the
synovial fluid that fills the synovial cavity acts as both cushioning and lubrication.
Some of the minor body cavities.
Minor Body Cavities
Linear Mode
