Abdominal Wall Flashcards
Describe the two peritoneum
Peritoneum is a serous membrane that lines the abdominopelvic cavity and invests visceral organs
Visceral peritoneum: area of membrane that touches the visceral organs
Parietal peritoneum: area of membrane that lines the abdominal walls
What is the peritoneal cavity?
The space between the visceral and parietal membrane that contains only enough extracellular fluid to lubricate the membranes
What is present in the Right upper quadrant? (RUQ)
Liver: right lobe
gallbladder
stomach: pylorus
Duodenum: parts 1-3
Pancreas: Head
Right suprarenal gland
Right kidney
Right colic (hepatic) flexure
Ascending colon: superior part
Transverse colon: Right half
What is present in the Left Upper Quadrant? (LUQ)
Liver: left lobe
spleen
stomach
jejunum and proximal ileum
Pancreas: body and tail
left kidney
left suprarenal gland
left colic (splenic) flexure
Transverse colon: Left half
descending colon: superior part
What is present in the Right Lower Quadrant? (RLQ)
Cecum
appendix
most of ileum
ascending colon: inferior part
right ovary
right uterine tube
right ureter: abdominal part
right spermatic cord: abdominal part
uterus (if enlarged)
urinary bladder (if very full)
What is present in the Left Lower Quadrant? (LLQ)
sigmoid colon
descending colon: inferior part
left ovary
left uterine tube
left ureter: abdominal part
left spermatic cord: abdominal part
Uterus (if enlarged)
urinary bladder (if very full)
What special function does the Linea Alba serve?
Runs from xiphoid process to pubic symphysis
Allows small vessels and nerves to pass to the skin
Has umbilical ring where blood vessels used to run to the placenta
What special function does the Umbilicus serve/used to serve?
All layers at abdominal wall fuse at the umbilicus
Used to be the site of the umbilical cord for nutrients while in the womb
Where does the neurovascular plane live in the anterolateral abdominal wall?
Between the internal oblique and Transverse abdominis
What lives in the neurovascular plane in the anterolateral abdominal wall?
Nerves and blood vessels that supply the anterolateral wall of the abdominal cavity
Where do most of the nerves and blood vessels supplying the anterior part of the abdominal wall live?
They leave the neurovascular plane and lie in the subcutaneous tissue
How is the layout of the neurovascular plane in the anterolateral abdominal wall similar to that of the thoracic wall?
Layout is similar to how the intercostal spaces are in the thoracic cage
Nerves and blood vessels are present in intercostal spaces the same as the neurovascular plane
What other actions can the abdominal muscles do individually or combined?
Increase intra-abdominal pressure resulting in:
forced expiration
defecation
micturition (urination)
vomiting
child birth
heavy lifting
Trunk movements/pelvis tilting
What is the difference between a Dermatome and a peripheral nerve?
Dermatome: carried by a spinal nerve in a segmental distribution to supply an area of skin
Peripheral: fibers carried usually by a plexus and have specific names
What are the sensory nerves of the anterolateral abdominal wall?
Thoraco-abdominal nerves (T7-T11)
Subcostal nerve (T12)
L1 splits into two named nerves
- iliohypogastric
- ilio-Inguinal
Describe the Thoraco-abdominal nerves (T7-T11) and what they supply (dermatomes)
Continuation of intercostal nerves
Anterior/lateral cutaneous branches
- T9 above umbilicus
-T10 around umbilicus
What does the Subcostal nerve ( T12) supply?
supplies skin inferior to the umbilicus
Where does the iliohypogastric nerve supply?
supplies skin over iliac crest and hypogastric regions
Also the Internal oblique and Transverse abdominis
Where does the ilio-inguinal nerve supply?
supplies skin of inguinal region, external perineum, and adjacent thigh
Also the Internal oblique and Transverse abdominis
Pathway of a sensory nerve from the spinal cord to the skin
From ventral ramus -> neurovascular plane -> branch off to either lateral cutaneous branch or anterior cutaneous branch -> skin of those two regions
How is the arterial supply to the anterolateral abdominal wall similar to the nerve supply?
The arteries follow the same path as the nerves in the neurovascular plane and distribution follows the muscles
How are the vessels different when it comes to the anterolateral vessels compared to the anterior vessels?
Anterolateral vessels seem to flow more in a circumferential pattern (wrap around)
Anterior vessels seem to flow more in a vertical patter in rectus sheath
Describe the pathway of an Inguinal Hernia
Pass through the inguinal canal into the scrotum in males and the labia majus in females
What is the most common inguinal hernia?
indirect inguinal hernias
List the contents of the spermatic cord
Ductus Deferens (Vas Deferens)
Arteries
venous plexus
lymphatic vessels
sympathetic nerves to arteries and ductus deferens
genital branch of genitofemoral nerve
Clinical significance of the internal oblique and transverse abdominis muscles attaching to the throacolumbar fascia
Lumbar stabilization
when contracted, they pull bilaterally on the transverse processes which help to lift and stabilize the lumbar vertebrae
Describe the difference between the two layers of peritoneum
Parietal peritoneum - lines internal wall
sensitive to pressure, pain, heat, cold, and laceration
well localized pain
Visceral peritoneum - lines organs
insensitive to pain BUT sensitve to stretching and chemical irritation
Pain referred to dermatomes (spinal ganglia)
Intraperitoneal
completely covered with visceral peritoneum
similar to how lungs are