The two major body cavities of the trunk are the
(a) Pleural cavity and pericardial cavity
(b) Pericardial cavity and peritoneal cavity
(c) Pleural cavity and peritoneal cavity
(d) Thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the terminology of body cavities. The trunk of the body is divided into major cavities that house vital organs and are separated by the diaphragm.

Step 2: Identify the two major body cavities of the trunk. These are the thoracic cavity (which contains the pleural and pericardial cavities) and the abdominopelvic cavity (which contains the peritoneal cavity).

Step 3: Recognize that the pleural cavity surrounds the lungs, the pericardial cavity surrounds the heart, and the peritoneal cavity surrounds many abdominal organs.

Step 4: Note that the thoracic cavity includes both the pleural and pericardial cavities, while the abdominopelvic cavity includes the peritoneal cavity.

Step 5: Conclude that the two major body cavities of the trunk are the thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity, which corresponds to option (d).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Body Cavities

Body cavities are spaces within the trunk of the body that house and protect internal organs. They are divided into major cavities such as the thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity, which contain smaller cavities within them.

Thoracic Cavity and Its Subdivisions

The thoracic cavity is the upper part of the trunk cavity, containing the pleural cavities (around the lungs) and the pericardial cavity (around the heart). These subdivisions protect vital organs and are separated by the diaphragm from the abdominal cavity.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

The abdominopelvic cavity is the lower major cavity of the trunk, located below the diaphragm. It includes the abdominal cavity, which houses digestive organs, and the pelvic cavity, which contains reproductive and excretory organs.

The two major body cavities of the trunk are the(a) Pleural cavity and pericardial cavity(b) Pericardial cavity and peritoneal cavity(c) Pleural cavity and peritoneal cavity(d) Thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity