Body cavities

Sanjaya AdikariDepartment of Anatomy

Folding of the embryo

Ventral mesentary

Dorsal mesentary

R L

Mesentery

• Formation of ventral and dorsal mesenteries divides the coelom into right and left components

• Most of the ventral mesentery breaks down and cause confluence of right and left halves

• Ventral mesentery persists in the region of the developing stomach and the liver

– Ventral mesogastrium (lesser omentum)

– Falciform ligament

Peritoneal cavity• Diaphragm separates the peritoneal cavity from the

pleuropericardial cavity above

Mesentary

mesentery

peritoneum

retro-peritoneal

cavity

Pleural and pericardial cavities

Pleural and pericardial cavities… cont.

• Pleuropericardial folds separate the

pleural and pericardial cavities

• Initially the pericardial cavity lies

anteriorly

• Later, due to extensive growth of the

lungs, the pleural cavities expand on

either side to grow over the pericardial

cavity