glenoid cavity

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2. the lesion produced by dental caries.
Cavities in the body. From Applegate, 2000.
cranial cavity the space enclosed by the bones of the cranium.
pelvic cavity the space within the walls of the pelvis.
pleural cavity the potential space between the two layers of pleura.

man·dib·u·lar fos·sa

a deep hollow in the squamous portion of the temporal bone at the root of the zygoma, in which rests the condyle of the mandible.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012


(kav'it-e) [L. cavitas, hollow]
A hollow space, such as a body organ or the hole in a tooth produced by caries.

abdominal cavity

The ventral cavity between the diaphragm and pelvis, containing the abdominal organs. It is lined with a serous membrane, the peritoneum, and contains the following organs: stomach with the lower portion of the esophagus, small and large intestines (except sigmoid colon and rectum), liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, adrenal glands, kidneys, and ureters. It is continuous with the pelvic cavity; the two constitute the abdominopelvic cavity. See: abdomen; abdominal quadrants for illus.

alveolar cavity

A tooth socket.

articular cavity

The synovial cavity of a joint.
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body cavity

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1. Any hollow space within the body. See: illustration
2. A hidden body space that is accessible from the outside, e.g., rectum or vagina. Referred to in “body cavity search for contraband”.
3. Derivatives of the coelom, i.e., the pericardial, peritoneal, and plural sacs. See: coelom

buccal cavity

Oral cavity.

cotyloid cavity


cranial cavity

The cavity of the skull, which contains the brain.

dental cavity


dorsal cavity

The body cavity composed of the cranial and spinal cavities. See: body cavity for illus.

glenoid cavity

Glenoid fossa (2).

joint cavity

The articular cavity or space enclosed by the synovial membrane and articular cartilages. It contains synovial fluid. Synonym: joint space

laryngeal cavity

The hollow inside the larynx from its inlet at the laryngopharynx to the beginning of the trachea. It has three segments (from top to bottom): vestibule of the larynx, ventricle of the larynx, infraglottic cavity.

lesser peritoneal cavity

Omental bursa.

medullary cavity

The marrow-filled space in a bone.

nasal cavity

One of two cavities between the floor of the cranium and the roof of the mouth, opening to the nose anteriorly and the nasopharynx posteriorly. Its lining of ciliated epithelium warms and moistens inhaled air, and traps dust and pathogens on mucus that are then swept toward the pharynx. The nasal septum (ethmoid and vomer) separates the nasal cavities, and the olfactory receptors are in the upper part of each cavity. The paranasal sinuses (frontal, maxillary, sphenoidal, and ethmoidal) open into the meatus below the conchae. The orifices of the frontal, anterior ethmoidal, and maxillary sinuses are in the middle meatus. The orifices of the posterior ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses are in the superior meatus. The nasal mucosa is highly vascular; blood is supplied by the maxillary arteries from the external carotid arteries and by the ethmoidal arteries from the internal carotid arteries.

oral cavity

The space inside the teeth and gums that is filled by the tongue when the mouth is closed and relaxed.
Synonym: buccal cavity

pelvic cavity

The bony hollow formed by the innominate bones, the sacrum, and the coccyx. The major pelvic cavity lies between the iliac fossae and above the iliopectineal lines. The minor pelvic cavity lies below the iliopectineal lines. See: pelvis

pericardial cavity

The potential space between the epicardium (visceral pericardium) and the parietal pericardium.
See: pericardia friction rub; pericarditis

peritoneal cavity

The potential space between the parietal peritoneum, which lines the abdominal wall, and the visceral peritoneum, which forms the surface layer of the visceral organs. It contains serous fluid.

pleural cavity

The potential space between the parietal pleura that lines the thoracic cavity and the visceral pleura that covers the lungs. It contains serous fluid that prevents friction.

pleuroperitoneal cavity

The ventral body cavity.
See: body cavity for illus.; coelom

pulp cavity

The cavity in a tooth containing blood vessels and nerve endings.

resonating cavities

The anatomic intensifiers of the human voice, including the upper portion of the larynx, pharynx, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and oral cavity.

Rosenmüller cavity

See: Rosenmüller, Johann Christian

serous cavity

The space between two layers of serous membrane (e.g., the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities).

spinal cavity

The cavity that contains the spinal cord. See: body cavity for illus.

splanchnic cavity

Any of the cavities of the body, such as the cranial, thoracic, and abdominal cavities, that contain important organs.
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thoracic cavity

The part of the ventral cavity above the diaphragm, the domed muscle that separates it from the abdominal cavity; it is enclosed by the chest wall. The thoracic viscera include the pleural membranes that surround the lungs, the mediastinum between the lungs, which contains the heart and pericardial membranes, the thoracic aorta, pulmonary artery and veins, vena cavae, thymus gland, lymph nodes, trachea, bronchi, esophagus, and thoracic duct. See: illustration

tympanic cavity

Middle ear.

uterine cavity

The hollow space inside the body of the uterus.

ventral cavity

The body cavity composed of the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities. See: body cavity for illus.

visceral cavity

The body cavity containing the viscera (i.e., the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis).
Medical Dictionary, © 2009 Farlex and Partners

glenoid cavity

  1. the hollow in the scapula into which the humerus fits.
  2. the depression of the squamosal bone into which the joint of the mammalian lower jaw fits.