Abdominal cavity, regions, fascia

Question 1

How superiorly and inferiorly does the abdominal cavity extend?
And the abdominopelvic?
And the Pelvic cavity?

Answer 1

Superior into the thoracic cage to 4th intercostal space. Inferior to the Pelvic inlet

Diaphragm to pelvic diaphragm

Pelvic inlet to pelvic diaphragm

abdominal cavity is continuous with the pelvic cavity at the pelvic inlet

Question 2

What line the abdominal cavity and covers the viscera? What is included in the viscera?

Answer 2

Peritoneum

Viscera includes most digestive organs, spleen, kidneys, and ureters

Question 3

Where is the Peritoneal cavity located?

Answer 3

Within the abdominal cavity (between peritoneal layers)

Question 4

Where is the subcostal plane of the abdominal wall located?

Answer 4

Horizontal line inferior to the 10th costal cartilage on both sides

Question 5

Where is the transtubercular plane of the abdominal wall located?

Answer 5

Horizontal line through the tubercles and L5 vertebra

Question 6

Where is the midclavicular plane of the abdominal wall located?

Answer 6

Vertical line through the midpoint of both clavicles and midinguinal points

Question 7

What are 9 regions of the abdominal wall formed by the subcostal, transtubercular, and midclavicular plane?

Answer 7

Epigastric
- superior middle 
Hypochondriac (L+R)
- superior laterals
Umbilical 
- middle
Lumbar (L+R)
- aka lateral, flank, renal
- mid laterals
Iliac (L+R)
- aka inguinal, groin
- inferior laterals
Hypogastric
- aka pubic
- inferior middle

Question 8

Where are the Transumbilical and median planes of the abdominal wall?

What are the 4 regions they create?

Answer 8

• Horizontal line through umbilicus and L3/L4 IVD
• Vertical line through midpoint (midsaggital) of body
• R/L upper quadrants (RUQ/LUQ)
• R/L lower quadrants (RLQ/LLQ)

Question 9

What borders the anterolateral abdominal wall?

Answer 9

Superior to ribs 7-10 costal cartilages and xiphoid process

Inferior to inguinal ligament and pelvic bones

Question 10

What are the two superficial fascias of the anterolateral abdominal wall?

Answer 10

superficial fatty layer
- Camper’s fascia
- equivalent to ‘hypodermis’
Deep membranous layer

Scarpa’s fascia
- thin layer of dense irregular CT overlying deep fascia separated by thin layer of loose CT

Question 11

What are the three layers of fascia of the anterolateral abdominal wall?

Answer 11

• superficial fascia (Camper’s and Scarpa’s)
• deep fascia (investing fascia)
• endoabdominal fascia

Question 12

The deep fascia is made of ______ CT surrounding abdominal muscles and their aponeuroses. It is equivalent to _______ from histology

Answer 12

Dense irregular CT

Epimysium

Question 13

Endoabdominal fascia is made of _____ CT located between muscles/aponeuroses and parietal peritoneum. It is analogous to ______ fascia and continuous with _____ fascia

Answer 13

Loose CT

Endothoracic, endopelvic

provides potential surgical dissection plane fo extraperitoneal and/or retroperitoneal organs