Dorsal body cavity contains the cranial cavity and spinal column.

• A. Contains the abdominal organs
• B. Contains the cranial cavity and spinal column
• C. Contains the heart and lungs
• D. Contains the stomach and liver

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is knowing which body cavity houses the brain and spinal cord. The dorsal body cavity runs along the back and protects the central nervous system. It’s divided into two parts: the cranial cavity inside the skull, which holds the brain, and the vertebral (spinal) cavity inside the spine, which houses the spinal cord. So stating that the dorsal cavity contains the cranial cavity and the spinal column is correct because those are the two subcavities of the dorsal region.

The other options point to areas of the ventral body cavity. The heart and lungs reside in the thoracic part of the ventral cavity, while the stomach and liver are in the abdominal region of the ventral cavity.