Which description correctly characterizes the ventral body cavity?

• A. It is anterior and larger of the closed body cavities and has two major subdivisions: thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.
• B. It is posterior and smaller of the closed body cavities.
• C. It contains the brain and spinal cord.
• D. It lies within the skull.

Answer: (A)

The ventral body cavity is the front-facing, larger closed cavity. It is divided by the diaphragm into two main spaces: the thoracic cavity, which houses the heart and lungs, and the abdominopelvic cavity, which contains most abdominal and pelvic organs. This arrangement keeps many organs in front of the body’s axis and separates them from the dorsal cavity, which lies at the back. The brain and spinal cord, for example, are contained in the dorsal body cavity (cranial and vertebral cavities) and are protected by the skull. So the description that it’s anterior and larger and has two major subdivisions—the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities—is the best fit.