abdominal cavity

cavity /cav·i·ty/ (kav´ĭ-te)

1. a hollow place or space, or a potential space, within the body or one of its organs.

2. in dentistry, the lesion produced by caries.

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abdominal cavity  the cavity of the body between the diaphragm and pelvis, containing the abdominal organs.

absorption cavities  cavities in developing compact bone due to osteoclastic erosion, usually occurring in the areas laid down first.

amniotic cavity  the closed sac between the embryo and the amnion, containing the amniotic fluid.

cleavage cavity  blastocoele.

complex cavity  a carious lesion involving three or more surfaces of a tooth in its prepared state.

compound cavity  a carious lesion involving two surfaces of a tooth in its prepared state.

cotyloid cavity  acetabulum.

cranial cavity  the space enclosed by the bones of the cranium.

dental cavity  the carious defect (lesion) produced by destruction of enamel and dentin in a tooth.

glenoid cavity  a depression in the lateral angle of the scapula for articulation with the humerus.

marrow cavity , medullary cavity the cavity in the diaphysis of a long bone containing the marrow.

nasal cavity  the proximal part of the respiratory tract, separated by the nasal septum and extending from the nares to the pharynx.

oral cavity  the cavity of the mouth, bounded by the jaw bones and associated structures (muscles and mucosa).

pelvic cavity  the space within the walls of the pelvis.

pericardial cavity  the potential space between the epicardium and the parietal layer of the serous pericardium.

peritoneal cavity  the potential space between the parietal and the visceral peritoneum.

pleural cavity  the potential space between the parietal and visceral pleurae.

pleuroperitoneal cavity  the temporarily continuous coelomic cavity in the embryo that is later partitioned by the developing diaphragm.

prepared cavity  a lesion from which all carious tissue has been removed, preparatory to filling of the tooth.

pulp cavity  the pulp-filled central chamber in the crown of a tooth.

Rosenmüller's cavity  pharyngeal recess.

serous cavity  a coelomic cavity, like that enclosed by the pericardium, peritoneum, or pleura, not communicating with the outside body, and whose lining membrane secretes a serous fluid.

sigmoid cavity 

1. either of two depressions in the head of the ulna for articulation with the humerus.

2. a depression on the distal end of the medial side of the radius for articulation with the ulna.

simple cavity  a carious lesion whose preparation involves only one tooth surface.

somatic cavity  the intraembryonic portion of the coelom.

tension cavities  cavities of the lung in which the air pressure is greater than that of the atmosphere.

thoracic cavity  the part of the ventral body cavity between the neck and the diaphragm.

tympanic cavity  the major portion of the middle ear, consisting of a narrow air-filled cavity in the temporal bone that contains the auditory ossicles.

uterine cavity  the flattened space within the uterus communicating proximally on either side with the uterine tubes and below with the vagina.

yolk cavity  the space between the embryonic disk and the yolk of the developing ovum of some animals.

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abdominal cavity

n.

The space bounded by the abdominal walls, diaphragm, and pelvis and containing most of the organs of digestion, the spleen, the kidneys, and the adrenal glands.

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abdominal cavity,

the space within the abdominal walls between the diaphragm and the pelvic area, containing the liver, stomach, small intestine, colon, spleen, gallbladder, kidneys, and associated tissues and blood and lymphatic vessels, surrounded by the abdominal fascia.

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abdominal

pertaining to, affecting or originating in the abdomen. See also abdominal paracentesis, abdominal sounds.

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abdominal binding

a wide bandage applied to the abdomen to raise intra-abdominal pressure. Its primary purposes are (1) to limit the displacement of the diaphragm during thoracic compression of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, thereby raising intrathoracic pressures achieved and improving forward blood flow, and (2) to maintain blood volume in the central circulation during hemorrhagic shock.

abdominal breathing

an abnormal form of respiratory movement in which the thorax is fixed and the inspiratory and expiratory movement of the lungs are carried out by the diaphragm and the abdominal muscles so that there are exaggerated movements of the abdominal wall.

abdominal cavity

the body cavity between the diaphragm and the pelvis; contains the abdominal organs.

abdominal enlargement

may result from fluid effusions (transudate, exudate or blood), enlargement of viscera (neoplasia, dilatation, engorgement or physiological phenomena, e.g. pregnancy), intra-abdominal masses or fat. Weakness of the abdominal wall usually results in a pendulous rather than enlarged abdomen.

abdominal lavage

see abdominal lavage.

abdominal muscle ischemia

an unexplained ischemic necrosis of the internal oblique muscle of ewes in late pregnancy which are carrying twins or triplets. Results in ventral hernia but often with little apparent effect on the ease of lambing.

abdominal muscles

the paired muscles of the flank and belly that surround and support the abdominal viscera.

abdominal pad

see abdominal pad.

abdominal pain

may arise from an abdominal organ, the peritoneum or be referred as from spinal nerves.

abdominal regions

arbitrary, descriptive subdivisions of the abdomen made up of three groups of three (like a noughts-and-crosses grid), three along the middle—xiphoid, umbilical and pubic, and three lateral pairs—hypochondriac, lateral abdominal and inguinal.

abdominal silhouette

the shape of the abdomen viewed from behind.

abdominal trier

see trier.

abdominal tunic

see tunica flava abdominis.

abdominal viscera

the organs contained within the abdominal cavity; they include the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, and parts of the urinary and reproductive tracts.

abdominal wall

consists of the parietal peritoneum, the deep and superficial layers of fascia, the transverse abdominal, internal and external abdominal oblique muscles, the subcutaneous tissue and the skin. It contains the umbilicus, the cicatrix marking the entry point of the umbilical cord, and is traversed by the inguinal canal, and at its caudal extremity carries the prepubic tendon, the ventral attachment of the wall to the pubic bones.

abdominal wall rigidity

reflex response to pain of peritonitis, accompanied by pain on palpation or percussion.

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abdominal cavity

Anatomy A body space bounded superiorly by the diaphragm, laterally by the abdominal wall, inferiorly by the pelvis; the AC is arbitrarily separated from the pelvic cavity by an imaginary plane that passes across the superior opening of the pelvis Content GI tract except esophagus and anus, kidneys, spleen, adrenal glands