What it means
The body has large cavities that hold the organs: the cranial cavity (brain), the thoracic cavity (heart and lungs), and the abdominal and pelvic cavities. Smaller cavities include the oral cavity (mouth) and nasal cavity. A dental cavity (caries) is damage to a tooth from bacteria and acid. In tuberculosis, a cavity is a hollow area of destroyed lung tissue.
At a glance
| Spanish | cavidad; caries (dental) |
|---|---|
| Also written | cavities |
Related terms
plaque
A deposit that builds up on a surface in the body, such as a sticky film of bacteria on teeth or a fatty buildup in an artery wall.
abdominal
Having to do with the abdomen, the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis; the belly.
pleural
Having to do with the pleura, the thin two-layer membrane that covers the lungs and lines the chest wall.