Dorsal cavities include which structures?

• A. Cranial Cavity
• B. Vertebral Canal
• C. Dorsal Cavities
• D. Meninges

Answer: (C)

Dorsal cavities are the two spaces that protect the central nervous system. They consist of the cranial cavity, which houses the brain, and the vertebral canal, which contains the spinal cord (and cauda equina). The meninges—dura, arachnoid, and pia mater—are membranes that line and protect these spaces, not separate cavities themselves. So, when asked what structures are included in the dorsal cavities, the correct idea is the cranial cavity and the vertebral canal. The option naming the dorsal cavities themselves isn’t describing a specific structure inside these spaces.