Body Cavities
The abdominopelvic cavity encompasses everything deep to the abdominal and pelvic
walls.
It is divided into two portions: the abdominal cavity, which contains numerous digestive
glands and organs, and the pelvic cavity, which houses the urinary bladder, reproductive
organs, and the last portion of the digestive tract.
Peritoneal Cavity
The abdominal cavity includes the peritoneal cavity, which is lined by a serous membrane
known as the peritoneum.
Some organs, such as the kidneys, are positioned retroperitoneally, meaning they lie
posterior to the peritoneal membrane.
Other organs, like the urinary bladder, are described as infraperitoneal since they extend
inferior to the peritoneal cavity.
Abdominopelvic Quadrants
Medical personnel primarily use quadrants to divide the abdominopelvic area into four
sections:
Abdominopelvic Regions
In addition to quadrants, the abdominopelvic cavity can be sectioned into nine regions,
which are often used by anatomists. These regions are organized similarly to a tic-tac-toe
grid:
Each region is delineated by four planes for clarity and is essential for identifying locations
of various organs in the abdominopelvic cavity.
Anatomical Associations
A variety of organs are associated with specific abdominopelvic regions, providing a clear
mapping for diagnostic purposes. Examples of organ locations include: