Fluid accumulation in body cavities | Body cavities

Fluid accumulation in body cavities

Liquids can accumulate in the various body cavities. This can be blood if an organ is damaged and bleeds into the cavity. However, if no accident or similar has occurred, it can also be water, which is located in the abdominal cavity, for example.

This water belly is called ascites and indicates for example a liver dysfunction. In this case, too few proteins are produced by the body, so that the water is washed out of the vessels and collects in the abdomen. This accumulation of fluid is also called effusion and can also occur in other body cavities. Depending on the location, this is called a pleural effusion (fluid in the chest cavity) or pericardial effusion (fluid in the pericardium).

Metastasis into the body cavity