Anatomy 3 (lecture 5) Flashcards
what are the functions of the large intestine?
Defence (commensal bacteria)
Absorption (H2O and electrolytes)
Excretion
How is the caecum related to the peritoneum?
Intraperitoneal (quite mobile)
How is the ascending colon related to the peritoneum?
Secondarily retroperitoneal
What does secondarily retroperitoneal mean?
It originally was originally intraperitoneal (embryology)
What is the transverse colon in relation to the peritoneum?
intraperitoneal - highly mobile (has own mesentery)
Descending colon in relation to the peritoneum?
Secondarily retroperitoneal
What is the sigmoid colon in relation to the peritoneum?
Intraperiotneal - quite mobile as it has its own mesentery
Where are the 2 paracolic gutters?
Between the lateral edge of the ascending and descending colon and abdominal wall (called left and right paracolic gutters)
What are the paracolic gutters part of?
The greater sac of the peritoneal cavity
Where do the teniae coli run from and to?
From the caecum to the distal end of the sigmoid colon
What are the haustra?
Small pouches in the colon formed from the tonically contracted teniae coli
What causes darker blobs on a plain AXR?
Air
What does faeces appear like in the rectum on a plain AXR?
“Mottled” - mixture of air and faeces
In what part of the abdomen do the caecum and appendix lie?
The right iliac fossa
What is the opening of the ileum into the caecum called?
The ileocaecal orifice
What is the opening of the appendix into the caecum called?
Appendiceal orifice
How is the appendix most often located in comparison to the caecum?
Retrocaecal (64%)
Position can vary causing a variation in the symptoms people present with e.g. men can present with testicular pain due to extending down to the pelvis and irritating structures
On what part of the caecum is the appendiceal orifice mostly always on?
What does this correspond to?
The posteromedial wall
McBurney’s point (1/3 of the way between right Anterior Superior Iliac Spine and the umbilicus)
Usually the point of maximum tenderness in appendicitis
In what part of the abdomen does the sigmoid colon lie?
left iliac fossa