Ventral Body Cavity

The ventral body cavity is the large space in the anterior torso that houses many major organs. It is subdivided into two cavities by the diaphragm. The portion of the ventral body cavity above, or superior, to the diaphragm is the thoracic cavity. The portion of the ventral body cavity below, or inferior, to the diaphragm, is the abdominopelvic cavity.

Figure 1: The ventral body cavity is divided into two cavities. The thoracic cavity is superior and the abdominopelvic cavity is inferior.