Question

Which of the following statements is false?

a) the diaphragm separates the abdominal cavity from the pelvic cavity
b) the esophagus is located in the mediastinum
c) the vertebral canal contains the spinal cord
d) the pleural cavities, containing the lungs, are part of the thoracic cavity

Answer 1

The false statement is that the diaphragm separates the abdominal cavity from the pelvic cavity; it actually separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The false statement among the given options is that the diaphragm separates the abdominal cavity from the pelvic cavity. This is incorrect because the diaphragm actually separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity. The abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity are not physically separated by any anatomical structure but can be distinguished conceptually, with the abdominal cavity housing the digestive organs and the pelvic cavity housing the organs of reproduction.

The esophagus is indeed located in the mediastinum which is part of the thoracic cavity. The vertebral canal contains the spinal cord and the pleural cavities, containing the lungs, are indeed part of the thoracic cavity.

Answer 2

The false statement is that "The diaphragm separates the abdominal cavity from the pelvic cavity"; the diaphragm actually separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that is false is: "The diaphragm separates the abdominal cavity from the pelvic cavity." The diaphragm actually separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity.

The thoracic cavity contains the lungs and the heart, which is located in the mediastinum, whereas the abdominopelvic cavity is split into the abdominal and pelvic cavities but not by the diaphragm.

The vertebral canal, another term for spinal cavity, indeed contains the spinal cord. Lastly, the pleural cavities, each housing a lung, are indeed part of the thoracic cavity.