The peritoneum Flashcards
What is the peritoneum?
Serous membrane which covers organs and body walls
Two types of peritoneum and what they cover?
Parietal: Covers body wall
Visceral: Covers the organs
What are the folds in the peritoneum called?
- Mesentery: fold which connects organs to body wall
- Ligament: Fold which connects organ to organ
- Omenta: specific kind of fold.
Two omenta in the body?
Greater omentum: connects the greater curvature of the stomach with the transverse colon
Lesser momentum: connects the lesser curvature of the stomach with the liver
Definition of peritoneal cavity
Potential space present between the two layers of the membranes of the abdominal cavity. It contains peritoneal fluid.
Potential space
Space which can form between the adjacent membranes which would alternatively be pressed together.
How to the greater and lesser sacs communicate?
Through the epiploic foramen.
Different kinds of peritonisation of the organs
Retro-peritoneal: attached to the posterior abdominal wall so surrounded by peritoneum anteriorly
Intra-peritoneal: completely peritonised organs
Extra-peritoneal: not covered in peritoneum
Which are the retroperitoneal organs?
Supra- adrenal glands Aorta/IVC Duodenum (except cap which is intraperitoneal) Pancreas Ureters Colon (acending and descending) Kidneys Esophagus Rectum
Which are the intraperitoneal organs
Stomach Spleen Liver Gall bladder SI Transverse colon Sigmoid colon
What does peritoneal cavity contain?
Leukocytes and antibodies
peritoneal fluid
Which of the peritoneal layers is more sensitive to pain/heat and pressure
Parietal peritoneum
What are the two major divisions of the peritoneal cavity?
The greater and lesser sacs/bursae
Are there organs in the peritoneal cavity?
NO
