Which cavity includes the cranial and vertebral regions?

The posterior or dorsal cavity is recognized for housing the cranial and vertebral regions. The cranial region includes the space within the skull that encases the brain, while the vertebral region encompasses the spinal column and contains the spinal cord. Together, these areas play vital roles in protecting the central nervous system, with the cranial cavity safeguarding the brain and the vertebral cavity providing a protective bony structure for the spinal cord.

In contrast, the anterior or ventral cavity is more associated with organs located toward the front of the body, including the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities, which are separated by the diaphragm. The thoracic cavity is involved with the heart and lungs, and the abdominopelvic cavity encompasses organs within the abdomen and pelvis. Thus, while these other cavities are crucial for containing various organ systems, they do not include the cranial and vertebral components, making the posterior or dorsal cavity the correct answer.