Which term best describes the body cavity that protects the brain and spinal cord?

Which term best describes the body cavity that protects the brain and spinal cord?

• A. Ventral body cavity
• B. Dorsal body cavity
• C. Pelvic cavity
• D. Abdominopelvic cavity

Answer: (B)

The important idea here is which cavity houses and protects the brain and spinal cord. That protection comes from the dorsal body cavity, which includes the cranial cavity for the brain and the vertebral (spinal) cavity for the spinal cord. The dorsal cavity lies along the back (posterior) of the body and is surrounded by protective membranes (meninges) and cerebrospinal fluid that cushion the CNS. The ventral body cavity, by contrast, contains most of the internal organs, and the pelvic cavity is a subdivision of that ventral space. The dorsal body cavity is thus the correct term for the cavity protecting the brain and spinal cord.

The important idea here is which cavity houses and protects the brain and spinal cord. That protection comes from the dorsal body cavity, which includes the cranial cavity for the brain and the vertebral (spinal) cavity for the spinal cord. The dorsal cavity lies along the back (posterior) of the body and is surrounded by protective membranes (meninges) and cerebrospinal fluid that cushion the CNS. The ventral body cavity, by contrast, contains most of the internal organs, and the pelvic cavity is a subdivision of that ventral space. The dorsal body cavity is thus the correct term for the cavity protecting the brain and spinal cord.