The two subdivisions are the cranial cavity and the vertebral (spinal) cavity. The cranial cavity, located in the skull, encases the brain, while the vertebral cavity runs within the bony vertebral column and encloses the spinal cord.

The dorsal body cavity protects the fragile nervous system organs and is divided into two continuous subdivisions. The cranial cavity lies within the skull and contains the brain. The vertebral, or spinal, cavity lies within the bony vertebral column and encloses the spinal cord, which is essentially a continuation of the brain. Both the brain and spinal cord are covered by membranes called meninges.

Key points

The dorsal body cavity has two subdivisions: the cranial cavity and the vertebral cavity.
The cranial cavity is in the skull and encases the brain.
The vertebral (spinal) cavity runs within the bony vertebral column and encloses the spinal cord.
The cranial and spinal cavities are continuous with one another.

Name the two subdivisions of the dorsal body cavity and state what each contains.

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