9. Abdomen & Digestive System (TT) Flashcards
How can the anterior abdominal wall be divided into different section?
Note: You can use either the trans-pyloric plane (L1) or the subcostal plane (L3) as the top line.
Draw a simpler way of dividing the anterior abdominal wall into sections.
Describe the position of the liver and gall bladder in surface anatomy of the anterior abdominal wall.
- Liver -> Right upper quadrant with left lobe reaching the left upper quadrant
- Gall bladder -> Lies in the transpyloric plane close to the right edge of rectus abdominis.
Describe the position of the stomach in surface anatomy of the anterior abdominal wall.
Mainly in the left upper quadrant, with the pylorus crossing the midline.
Describe the position of the caecum in surface anatomy of the anterior abdominal wall.
Right lower quadrant.
Describe the position of the descending colon in surface anatomy of the anterior abdominal wall.
Left lumbar region
Describe the 3 muscle layers of the anterior abdominal wall and the direction of their fibres. [IMPORTANT]
What is the line called that runs along the midline of your abs?
Linea alba
What is the inguinal ligament, where does it attach and what forms it?
- It is the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscles
- It attaches at the anterior superior iliac spine and pubic tubercle
- It forms part of the boundaries of the inguinal canal
What is the conjoint tendon and what forms it?
- It is the lower part of the common aponeurosis of the internal oblique muscle and the transversus abdominis
- It forms part of the boundaries of the inguinal canal
What are the different layers that constitute the anterior abdominal wall? [IMPORTANT]
What are the abdominal muscles closest to the midline called?
Rectus abdominis
What are the rectus abdominis muscles contained within?
A sheath formed by the aponeuroses of abdominal wall muscles & transversalis fascia.
Where do the rectus abdominis muscles attach?
- Superiorly at the costal margin
- Inferiorly at the pubic bone
Describe the innervation of the anterior and anterolateral abdominal walls.
Ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves innervate the lower parts of the abdomen.
Where do the lateral cutaneous nerves that innervate the abdominal wall travel?
Between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscle layers.
Draw the dermatomes of the anterior abdominal wall.
Describe the descent of the testis. [IMPORTANT]
- The gubernaculum guides the descent of the testis through all of the layers of the abdominal wall except the parietal peritoneum
- However, the peritoneum is pulls down with the testis
- The canal the peritoneum forms is called the processus vaginalis
- The peritoneum gives rise to a covering of the testis called the tunica vaginalis
How does an inguinal hernia occur? [IMPORTANT]
When the testes descend, if there is a patent processus vaginalis, the contents of the peritoneal cavity can herniate into the scrotum.
What important structure does the descent of the testis give rise to?
Inguinal canal
Does the inguinal canal also exist in females?
Yes
What is found at either end of the inguinal canal?
- Deep inguinal ring -> On the proximal side
- Superficial inguinal ring -> On the distal side
Show how the inguinal canal can be found using surface anatomy.
What forms each side of the inguinal canal?
- Roof -> Arching fibres of internal oblique & transversus abdominis
- Anterior wall -> External oblique aponeurosis
- Posterior wall -> Transversalis fascia; medially, the conjoint tendon
- Floor -> Infolding of inguinal ligament
What are the contents of the inguinal canal in females?
- Round ligament of uterus
- Ilioinguinal nerve
- Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve
What are the contents of the inguinal canal in males?
- Spermatic cord and contents
- Ilioinguinal nerve
- Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve
Label this view of the inguinal canal from the posterior side (from within the abdomen).
On this image, you can see the deep inguinal ring. Label roughly where the superficial inguinal ring is.
The deep inguinal ring is an outpouching of…
The transversalis fascia.
Describe the position of the deep inguinal ring relative to the epigastric vessels.
It is lateral to the vessels.
What are the boundaries of Hesselbach’s triangle?
- Inguinal ligament
- Inferior epigastric vessels
- Rectus abdominis
Compare an indirect and direct inguinal hernia.
Indirect:
- Congenital
- Contents pass through deep inguinal ring, inguinal canal and then the superficial inguinal ring
Direct:
- Not congenital
- Contents buldge out through a weakness in Hesselbach’s triangle and pass through the superficial inguinal ring -> Do not pass through deep inguinal ring or inguinal canal
Where can the root of an inguinal hernia be felt?
It lies above the pubic tubercle (since the superficial inguinal ring is above the inguinal ligament, which attaches to the tubercle).
Draw the position of the femoral canal.
It is the space within the femoral sheath that contains the femoral artery and vein (but not nerve).
Where do the foregut, midgut and hindgut stretch from and to?
- Foregut -> Inferior oesophagus to midway along duodenum
- Midgut -> Midway along duodenum to 2/3rd along the transverse colon
- Hindgut -> 2/3rd along the duodenum to the rectum
Describe the blood supply and innervation of the foregut.
- Blood: Coeliac artery
- Innervation: T5-T9
Describe the blood supply and innervation of the midgut.
- Blood: Superior mesenteric artery
- Innervation: T10-T11
Describe the blood supply and innervation of the hindgut.
- Blood: Inferior mesenteric artery
- Innervation: T12-L1
Describe the referred pain regions of the foregut, midgut and hindgut.
What is the abdomen and what are the two parts?
- It is the region of the body below the diaphragm.
- Two parts:
- Abdomen proper
- Pelvic cavity
What are the two layers of the peritoneum?
- Visceral -> Covers organs
- Parietal -> Covers the walls of the abdomen
Draw diagrams to show the layers of peritoneum on an intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal structures.
Are major nerve trunks and the aorta intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal?
Retroperitoneal
What are the lesser and greater omentum?
Structures related to the stomach:
- Lesser ometum -> The double layer of peritoneum that extends from the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach
- Greater omentum -> A large apron-like fold of visceral peritoneum that hangs down from the anterior side of the stomach (ultimately attaches to the posterior absominal wall)
What forms the connection between the greater and lesser sac of the peritoneal cavity?
The lesser omentum has a free edge.
What are the different attachments of the liver?
- Falciform ligament -> A ligament that attaches the liver to the front body wall
- Lesser omentum -> Attaches the liver to the stomach (Can’t see the attachment on this diagram because this is the free edge. The superior edge of the omentum attaches to the liver.)
What structure are the green and blue parts of this diagram derived from?
- Green -> Derived from ventral mesentry
- Blue -> Derived from dorsal mesentry
Label this cross-section.
Describe the position of the spleen in the abdomen.
It is just below the ribs, on the left side of the abdomen, just left and posterior to the stomach.
What is the role of the spleen? [IMPORTANT]
- Turnover of RBCs
- Role in immunity is studied in second year
Where does the oesophagus start and end?
Begins at lower laryngopharynx and ends at the stomach (~25cm long).
What sort of muscle is found in the oesophagus?
- Upper 1/3rd -> Skeletal muscle
- Lower 2/3rd -> Smooth muscle
At what spinal level does the oesophagus start and what structure marks this?
- C6/C7
- This is marked by the upper oesophageal sphincter
Describe the position of the oesophagus relative to the trachea and left atrium.
Runs posterior to:
- Trachea
- Tracheal bifurcation
- Left atrium
At what level does the oesophagus pass through the diaphragm?
T10
What is found at the gastro-oesophageal junction?
- Lower oesophageal sphincter
- This ‘sphincter’ largely works due to the diaphragm, which can contrict the oesophagus
- It prevents reflux from the stomach
What nerves run with the oesophagus and cross the diaphragm with it?
Left and right vagus nerves
What nerve provides parasympathetic innervation to the oesophagus?
Vagus
What is the name for the part of the stomach where the oesophagus enters?
Cardia
What are the three main parts of the stomach?
What are the parts of the pylorus of the stomach?
- Pyloric antrum
- Pyloric canal
- Pyloric sphincter
What is the pyloric sphincter?
A sphincter between the stomach and the first part of the duodenum.
Label this diagram of the stomach.
What demarcates the boundary between the fundus and body of the stomach?
The fundus is everything above the cardiac notch.
What demarcates the boundary between the body and pylorus of the stomach?
Angular notch
How many layers of muscle does the stomach have?
It has 3, which is one more than most organs:
- Longitudinal
- Circular
- Oblique
What is pyloric stenosis and what may it result in?
- A narrowing of the pylorus of the stomach.
- Symptoms include projectile vomiting without the presence of bile.
What are gastric ulcers and what are the symptoms?
- A break in the inner lining of the stomach
- Symptoms include: Abdominal pain, bloating, etc.
What are the 4 parts of the duodenum?
- 1st (superior)
- 2nd (descending)
- 3rd (horizontal)
- 4th (ascending)
Which side of the abdomen does the duodenum curve out to?
Right side
Between what vertebral levels is the duodenum?
L1 and L3
What demarcates the boundary between the foregut and the midgut?
The entry of the biliary and pancreatic ducts into the duodenum.
Where in the duodenum do the biliary and pancreatic ducts enter?
2nd (descending) part
What demarcates the point where the dudodenum becomes the jejunum?
The ligament of Treitz (which joins the duodenum to the diaphragm).
Is the duodenum intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal?
The first cm is mobile, but the rest is retroperitoneal.
Describe the blood supply to the duodenum.
Draw the relations of the duodenum.
What is the sphincter of Oddi?
The smooth muscle that surrounds the end portion of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct. This muscle relaxes during a meal to allow bile and pancreatic juice to flow into the intestine.
What are the ligaments on the anterior side of the liver?
What are the ligaments on the posterior side of the liver?
What is the entry/exit point of the hepatic portal vein, bile duct, hepatic artery into the liver?
What structures does the free edge of the lesser omentum contain?
- Common bile duct
- Hepatic artery
- Hepatic portal vein
What is the name for the entrance to the lesser sac?
Epiploic foramen
What are the three parts of the gall bladder?
- Fundus
- Body
- Neck
Describe the structure of the biliary system. [IMPORTANT]
- The left and right hepatic ducts drain the left and right lobes of the liver
- They converge to give the common hepatic duct
- Bile flows through this and into the cystic duct, after which it is stored in the gall bladder
- Upon eating, the bile is released from the gall bladder into the cystic duct and then into the common bile duct
- From there it passes into the duodenum
What height does the top of the gall bladder (fundus) reach?
9th costal cartilage
Describe the position of the gall bladder in the abdomen.
The fundus of the bladder is where the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle crosses the right 9th intercostal cartilage.
What is the name for gall bladder pain and where can it be referred to?
- Cholecystitis
- Can be referred to right shoulder, right hypochondrium or epigastric region
What structure does the upper part of the common bile duct lie within?
Free margin of the lesser omentum
What does the common bile duct enter the duodenum with? [IMPORTANT]
It enters the duodenum with the pancreatic duct (it enters at the hepatopancreatic ampulla).
Is the pancreas intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal?
Retroperitoneal
Describe the position of the pancreas.
It is roughly along the midline of the body, with the head tucked into the curve of the duodenum. The body and tail are off on the left side.
What are the different parts of the pancreas? [EXTRA]
What is the relation of the pancreas to the duodenum? (In terms of position and function)
- The head of the pancreas is in the curve of the duodenum
- The major duodenal papilla is a drainage point for pancreatic and hepatic (bile) secretions
- The minor duodenal papilla also receives the accessory pancreatic duct
Describe the relation of different parts of the pancreas to surrounding organs and structures.
Draw how an annular pancreas occurs. [EXTRA]
Name the different parts of the small and large intestine.
Small intestine:
- Duodenum
- Jejunum
- Ileum
Large intestine:
- Ascending colon -> Including caecum and appendix
- Transverse colon
- Descending colon
- Sigmoid colon
- Rectum
How long is each part of the small intestine?
- Duodenum -> 25cm
- Jejunum -> 2.5m
- Ileum -> 3.5m
Are the parts of the small intestine intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal?
- Start of duodenum -> Intraperitoneal
- Rest of duodenum -> Retroperitoneal
- Jejunum -> Intraperitoneal
- Ileum -> Intraperitoneal