Canine Anatomy

Question 1

Define the peritoneum.

Answer 1

Single continuous sheet that lines abdominal cavity & envelops abdominal organs.

Question 2

Describe the two main parts of the peritoneum.

Answer 2

Parietal peritoneum - closely adherent to abdominal wall and extends through inguinal canal.
Visceral peritoneum - closely adherent to organ surface and envelops organs

Question 3

Describe the connecting peritoneum.

Answer 3

Mesentery - connects bowel to body wall
Omentum - connects stomach to something
Fold - connects bowel to bowel
Ligament - connects non-bowel to something

Question 4

Define the abdominal cavity.

Answer 4

• Defined by diaphragm cranially
• Abdominal wall laterally
• Contains all abdominal organs/ structures including peritoneum

Question 5

Define the peritoneal cavity.

Answer 5

The potential space between parietal & visceral peritoneum –> contains only a small amount of peritoneal fluid.

Question 6

Describe the main tubes that come out of the diaphragm into the abdomen.

Answer 6

1. Aorta passes through aortic hiatus between left & right crura
2. Caudal vena cava passes through caval foramen in central tendon
3. Oesphagus passes through oesophageal hiatus

Question 7

What 4 lobes is the liver split into? And what are the extra in a dog?

Answer 7

Left, right, caudate and quadrate
In dog left & right split into medial and lateral.

Question 8

Can you externalise the liver and why?

Answer 8

Firmly attached to the diaphragm so have to operate internally.

Question 9

What are the peritoneal attachments of the stomach?

Answer 9

• Greater omentum: attaches loosely to dorsal body wall
• Lesser omentum
• Gastro-splenic ligament

Question 10

What are the peritoneal attachments of the liver?

Answer 10

• Coronary ligament
• R & L triangular ligaments
• Falciform ligament

Question 11

What are the 3 areas of the stomach?

Answer 11

Fundus, corpus and pylorus

Question 12

Describe the topography of the spleen.

Answer 12

On left hand side of abdomen; has gastro-splenic peritoneal attachment.

Question 13

What is the duodenum?

Answer 13

The first part of the small intestine.; exit of bile/pancreatic duct.

Question 14

What are the peritoneal attachments of the duodenum?

Answer 14

1. Mesoduodenum
2. Duodeno-colic fold
3. Hepato-duodenal ligament (part of lesser omentum)

Question 15

How many lobes does the pancreas have?

Answer 15

2

Question 16

What are the pancreas peritoneal attachments?

Answer 16

• Right lobe within meso-duodenum
• Left lobe within deep leaf of greater omentum

Question 17

What is the jejunum and what is it covered by?

Answer 17

Middle part of SI; covered by greater omentum.

Question 18

What are the jejunum peritoneal attachments?

Answer 18

Meso-jejunum

Question 19

What is the ileum?

Answer 19

Terminal portion of SI; in dogs runs directly into colon.

Question 20

What are the ileum peritoneal attachments?

Answer 20

• Ileo-caecal fold
• Meso-ileum (extension of meso-jejunum)

Question 21

What is the caecum?

Answer 21

First part of large intestine.

Question 22

What are the peritoneal attachments of the caecum?

Answer 22

• Ileo-caecal fold
• Caeco-colic fold

Question 23

What is the colon?

Answer 23

Part of the large intestine.

Question 24

What are the colon peritoneal attachments?

Answer 24

Meso-colon to dorsal body wall