abdominal cavity and peritoneum Flashcards
The abdominal cavity is part of the abdominopelvic cavity. The abdominal cavity contains a serous sac, the peritoneum, which is similar to pleura and pericardium. The abdominal cavity contains organs of the digestive and urinary systems, which are located where in regards to the peritoneum?
They invaginate the peritoneum or are located behind it (such as the kidneys).
What is the difference in the peritoneal cavity in males and females, and why is this clinically relevant?
The peritoneal cavity is a closed sac in males, but in females the vagina, uterus, and uterine tubes connect the peritoneal cavity with the outside world! This is a potential pathway for the spread of infection.
The peritoneal cavity normally contains only a thin film of peritoneal fluid.
In some pathological conditions (ex: cirrhosis of the liver, chronic heart failure, ovarian cancer) excess peritoneal fluid accumulates. This condition is known as…………
Excess fluid may be removed for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes in a procedure called………………
ascites
paracentesis
Bacteria may infect the peritoneum (such as after a penetrating wound or a peptic ulcer) , causing inflammation called……………., resulting in severe abdominal pain and tenderness, nausea and vomiting, fever, and constipation.
Why is this a potentially a life-threatening condition?
peritonitis
due to the peritoneum’s large surface area and the rapid absorption of bacterial toxins
Peritoneal fluid normally flows SUPERIORLY, toward the diaphragm, and is rapidly absorbed! So, how would you position a patient who has bacterial peritonitis?
propped in a seated position (≥ 45°) so that:
- the infected fluid flows downward into the pelvic cavity, where absorption is slower.
- the likelihood of infection spreading through the diaphragm to the pleura from the subphrenic space is reduced.
Peritonitis due to trauma (ex: surgery) or infection may result in the formation of…………………., which can cause chronic pain and bowel or uterine tube obstruction!
peritoneal adhesions (fibrous bridges)
Organs of the abdominal cavity are related to peritoneum in one of two ways: Intraperitoneal or Retroperitoneal. Describe each:
- Intraperitoneal: invaginating the peritoneal sac from behind and suspended from the body wall by a double layer of peritoneum (mesentery).
- Retroperitoneal: located posterior to the peritoneum
Intraperitoneal organs have a covering of…………….. peritoneum and are suspended by a……………
visceral
mesentery
the peritoneum lining the body wall is………….. peritoneum.
parietal
Blood vessels and nerves that supply an intraperitoneal organ reach it through a………………….
mesentery
* some mesenteries are named according to specific parts of the digestive tract (ex: transverse mesocolon to transverse colon), but that to the small intestines is called simply “the mesentery.”
Retroperitoneal organs are posterior to the parietal peritoneum, located between it and the posterior abdominal wall. Therefore they are only partially covered by parietal peritoneum, usually just on the anterior surface. An example is what organ?
Kidneys
The Intraperitoneal organs:
- Abdominal esophagus
- Stomach and proximal duodenum (duodenal cap)
- Jejunum and ileum
- Cecum
- Transverse colon
- Sigmoid colon
- Liver and gallbladder
- Tail of the pancreas
- Spleen
The retroperitoneal organs:
- Duodenum (except the duodenal cap)
- Ascending colon
- Descending colon
- Pancreas (except the tail)
- Kidneys and ureters
- Abdominal aorta
- Inferior vena cava
Peritoneal formations consisting of double layers of peritoneum include:
- Mesenteries
- Omenta (which connect the stomach & proximal duodenum to other organs)
- Peritoneal ligaments (which connect abdominal organs to each other or to the abdominal wall)
An omentumis a double-layered fold of peritoneum passing from the stomach & proximal duodenum to adjacent organs. There are two omenta:
- Greater omentum: suspended from the greater curvature of the stomach
- Lesser omentum: connecting the lesser curvature
What is cool about the greater omentum?
The greater omentum is mobile and often moves to wall off infections within the peritoneal cavity, keeping them localized to prevent generalized peritonitis!
A…………. ligament is a double layer of peritoneum that connects an abdominal organ with another organ or with the abdominal wall.
peritoneal
Some peritoneal ligaments are parts of the greater or lesser omentum (such as the………………. ligament), while some peritoneal ligaments connect an organ to an adjacent organ (such as the…………….. ligament) or the body wall.
gastrosplenic
splenorenal
peritoneal formations (and some organs) join to subdivide the peritoneal cavity. What are the different sacs of the peritoneal cavity that they form?
- Greater sac (which is the main, larger part of the peritoneal cavity)
- Lesser sac, called the omental bursa (which lies posterior to the stomach and lesser omentum)
* The blue in the pic is the lesser sac.
The greater peritoneal sac and omental bursa communicate through the……….. foramen.
omental (epiploic)
The omental foramen is bounded anteriorly by:
the hepatoduodenal ligament, which forms the free right edge of the lesser omentum.
The omental foramen is bounded posteriorly by:
the inferior vena cava
The omental foramen is bounded superiorly by:
caudate lobe of the liver
The omental foramen is bounded inferiorly by:
the superior (first) part of the duodenum
