Which cavity contains the spinal cord?

• A. Cranial cavity
• B. Thoracic cavity
• C. Abdominal cavity
• D. Dorsal cavity

Answer: (D)

The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system and sits inside the vertebral canal, which is housed in the dorsal body cavity. The dorsal cavity includes the cranial cavity (which contains the brain) as well as the vertebral or spinal cavity. In contrast, the thoracic and abdominal cavities are ventral cavities that hold the chest and abdominal organs and do not contain the spinal cord. So the spinal cord resides in the dorsal cavity.