Clinically relevant anatomy

Question 1

What are the organs of the foregut?

Answer 1

• Oesophagus to mid-duodenum
• Liver + gall bladder
• Spleen
• ½ of pancreas

Question 2

What are the organs of the midgut?

Answer 2

Mid-duodenum to proximal 2/3rds of Transverse colon

½ of pancreas

Question 3

What are the organs of the hindgut?

Answer 3

Distal 1/3rd of Transverse colon to Proximal ½ of Anal canal

Question 4

In paracentesis where is the needle placed and why?

Answer 4

Lateral to the rectus sheath. This avoids the inferior epigastric artery which ascends in the anterior abdominal wall deep to rectus abdominus after arising from the external iliac artery.

Question 5

What is the main parasympathetic nerve to the abdominal organs?

Answer 5

• Vagus nerve. This gives parasympathetic nerve fibres up to the distal end of the transverse colon.
• The pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2, 3 and 4) gives parasympathetic nerve fibres to the smooth muscle and glands of the descending colon to the anal canal.