Abdomen Flashcards
surface landmarks of abdominal wall
-xiphoid stress
-xiphosternal joint
-costal margin- 7-10 (L3, rib 10, xiphoid process)- upper margin
-inguinal ligament and pelvic bones- lower margin
-iliac crest- across L4
-symphysis pubis
-inguinal canal
-linea alba- from pubic symphysis to xiphoid process- vertical fibrous band
-linea semilunaris- lateral borders of rectus abdominus (outer abs)
-tendinous intersections- defines 6 pac
iliac crest
-anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)- iliac crest ends here anteriorly
-posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS)- ends here posteriorly
–> waist circumference
inguinal ligament
-rolled-under inferior margin of the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle
-attached to the ASIS and pubic tubercle
superficial inguinal ring
-triangular aperture in the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle
-situated above the medial to the pubic tubercle
-Inguinal hernia
-direct- directly through abdominal wall traverse superficial ring
-indirect- traverse deep and superficial inguinal rings
-if it is medial or lateral to inferior epigastric -> tell you if it is direct or indirect
vertical lines
-passes through the midpoint between the ASIS and symphysis pubis
transpyloric plane
-passes through the tips of the 9th costal cartilage @ L1
-pylorus of stomach, duodenum junction, neck of pancreas, and hilum of kidneys run through here
subcostal plane
-joins the 10th costal cartilage at level of L3
intertubercular plane
-joints the tubercles on the iliac crest at L5
contents of abdomen
-liver- under cover of lower ribs, most of it lies in RUQ (in thin adult, 2 fingerbreadth below costal margin)
-gallbladder- fundus lies opposite the tip of right 9th costal cartilage
-spleen- LUQ and lies under cover of 9-11 ribs (well protected)
-pancreas- lies across transpyloric plane (deep)
-kidneys- right is slightly lower than left (right palpable in right lumbar region at the end of deep inspiration
-duodenum- transpyloric plane about 4 fingerbreadths to right of midline (mostly retroperitoneal)
-cecum- RLQ
-appendix- RLQ, base is situated 1/3 up line, joining ASIS to umbilicus (McBurney’s point)
-ascending colon- extends upwards from cecum on lateral side of right vertical line (retroperitoneal)
-transverse colon- extends across abdomen, occupying umbilical region
-descending colon- extends downward from left costal margin on lateral side of left vertical line
-sigmoid colon- approx 10-15 inches and continuous with rectum in from of S3
-rectum- 5 inches and begins anterior to S3, pierces pelvic floor and becomes continuous with anal canal
stomach
- cardioesophageal junction lies about 3 fingerbreadths below to left of xiphisternal junction, lesser curvature lies on curved lines joining the cardioesophageal junction and pylorus, greater curvature has extremely variable position in umbilical region or below
-esophagus pierces the stomach at T10
-pylorus lies in transpyloric plane
abdominal wall layers
-skin
-superficial fascia- campers -> yellowy/fatty (superficial), scarpa -> membranous (deep)
-investing fascia
-muscles
-extraperitoneal fat
-parietal peritoneum
paracolic gutters
-lateral and medial sides of ascending and descending colon
-site for fluid collection
-movement of infected peritoneal fluid
subphrenic space
-between the liver and diaphragm
-fluid can collect
-drain inferior to 12th rib
nerve supply- skin, muscles, and parietal peritoneum
-anterior rami of lower 6 thoracic and 1st lumbar nerves
-lower 5 intercostal and subcostal nerves
-iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves
-run between internal oblique and transversus abdominus muscle
-lower 6 thoracic pierce rectus sheath
-iliohypogastric nerve pierces the external oblique aponeurosis above the superficial inguinal ring
-ilioinguinal nerve passes through the inguinal canal to emerge through the ring
-iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal-arise from anterior rami of L1
T7 dermatome
-epigastric around xiphoid process
-T10- umbilicus
-L1- just above inguinal ligament at the pubic symphysis
-T4 nipple
blood supply to abdominal wall
-midline- branches of superior (comes off internal thoracic) and inferior epigastric (comes off external iliac)
-flanks- intercostal, lumbar (come off aorta), and deep circumflex iliac (external iliac) arteries
-inguinal region- superficial epigastric, superficial circumflex iliac, superficial external pudendal (all originate from femoral artery
venous drainage
-same names as arteries
-drain into internal thoracic and external iliac veins, azygos, and inferior vena cava
-paraumbilical vein drains into porta vein
lymph drainage
-above umbilicus drains- anterior axillary lymph nodes
-below umbilicus- superficial inguinal nodes
caput medusae
-paraumbilical veins drain into porta veins
-if backup in portal system
-pressure increased
-veins distend in umbilical region
-stomach, esophagus, anal area -> same effect
superficial fasica
-superficial fatty layer (fascia of camper)- continuous
-deep membranous layer (scarpas fascia)- fades out laterally and above:
-inferiorly- fuse with deep fascia of the thigh (fascia lata)
-midline- forms tubular sheath for penis (clitoris)
-perineum- attached on each side to margins of the pubic arch (colles fascia)
-posteriorly- fuses with perineal body and posterior margin of the perineal membrane
-investing (deep) fascia- thin layer of areolar tissue covering the muscles
arcuate line
-marks the transition of the 3 abdominal muscles (sheath) running anteriorly to rectus abdominus at and below ASIS and the transversalis fascia covering the inferior quarter
-where arcuate line meet semilunaris -> area of herniation -> lateral ventral wall hernia -> spigelian hernia***
-hematomas can collect there post op bc there is no strong posterior fascia
-below arcuate line is weaker -> subpubic incision
rectus sheath
-formed by the aponeroses of the 3 lateral abdominal wall muscles: external and internal oblique and transversus
-above the ASIS- external oblique is above rectus, internal is above and below, and transversus runs below
-ASIS and below- all three run anterior to rectus abdominus -> no support below rectus other than the transversalis fascia
-rectus sheath looks thicker below ASIS
peritoneum and peritoneal cavity
-peritoneum is serous membrane that lines abdominal and pelvic cavities and that covers the viscera
-parietal layer lines the walls of abdominal and pelvic cavities
-visceral layer covers the organs
-potential space- peritoneal cavity
-peritoneum secretes fluid for lubrication of organs
2 parts of peritoneal cavity
-greater and lesser sac
-greater sac is main compartment- extends from diaphragm down into pelvis
-lesser sac- smaller and lies behind the stomach-> allows for stomach expansion with eating
-sacs are in free communication with one another through the epiploic foramen
folds
-on parietal peritoneum
-5 folds below umbilicus on anterior wall of greater sacs
-peritoneal fossa between the folds
-median umbilical fold- urachus- contains urinary bladder and fetus- extends from urinary bladder to umbilicus
-medial umbilical folds on both sides of median umbilical fold- contain a obliterated umbilical artery- extends from sides of bladder to umbilicus
-lateral umbilical folds- contain inferior epigastric artery- extends from deep inguinal ring to arcuate line
-hasselbalch (inguinal) triangle in the fossa between the medial and lateral folds -> rectus abdomnis (lateral), inferior epigastric (medial), and iliopubic tract (inferiorly)
-inguinal rings in the lateral fossa (most outer) -> potential sites of hernias
lesser sac
-lies behind the stomach and lesser omentum
-dips into the omentum layers
-extends upwards as far as the diaphragm and downward between the layers of the greater omentum
-left margin- spleen, gastrosplenic omentum, splenicorenal ligament
-right margin opens into greater sac (main part of peritoneal cavity) through the epiploic foramen
-formed due to 90 degree clockwise rotation of the stomach during development
-allows for stomach to expand after eating
-superior border is posterior to stomach on lesser omentum and less border is at the tip of greater omentum
boundaries of epiploic foramen
-the communication of the greater and lesser sac
-anteriorly- free border of lesser omentum, bile duct, hepatic artery, and portal vein -> portal triad
-posteriorly- inferior vena cava
-superiorly- caudate process of caudate lobe of liver
-inferiorly- first part of duodenum
peritoneal ligaments, omenta, and mesenteries
-permit blood, lymph vessels, and nerves to reach the viscera
-peritoneal ligaments:
-2 layers folds of peritoneum that connect solid viscera with the anterior abdominal wall (mesenteries is posterior)
-ie. falciform ligament (liver), coronary ligament (peritoneum/diaphragm), and right and left triangular ligaments
-round ligament- tethers liver to abdominal wall as well- contains ligamentum teres (obliterated umbilical vein) -> goes straight to umbilical
omenta
-viscera to viscera
-2 layered folds of peritoneum that connect the stomach with another viscus
-greater omentum- greater curvature of stomach with the transverse colon, spleen, and diaphragm, -> gastro-phrenic, gastro-splenic portion-colic portions
-lesser omentum- lesser curvature to the fissure for the ligamentum venosum and the porta hepatis of the liver -> hepato-gastric, duodenal
-ligamentum venosum- cord like lies within hepato-gastro ligament to liver -> between caudate lobe and left lobe of liver
liver
-bare side of liver without peritoneum
-allows for infection
-can spread to abdomen to thoracic cavity