ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -The thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominopelvic cavity by the diaphragm. The thoracic cavity is further separated into the pleural cavity which contains the lungs and the superior mediastinum which includes the pericardial (heart) cavity. The organs within the ventral body cavity are called the viscera.

Detailed explanation-2: -The ventral is the larger cavity and is subdivided into two parts (thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities) by the diaphragm, a dome-shaped respiratory muscle.

Detailed explanation-3: -The diaphragm is a thin dome-shaped muscle that separates the ventral cavity into the thoracic (superiorly) and the abdominopelvic (inferiorly) cavities.

Detailed explanation-4: -The diaphragm separates the abdominal and thoracic cavities but does allow certain structures to pass through via its three openings: The inferior vena cava passes through the diaphragm at the vena caval foramen.

Detailed explanation-5: -A coronal or frontal plane divides the body into dorsal and ventral (back and front, or posterior and anterior) portions.