Exam 3- Abdomen Flashcards
linea alba
midline, tendinous seam joining the 4 layers of abdominal muscles
what’s the function of muscles?
protection of internal organs and they flex the vertebral column
peritoneum
a double envelope of serous membrane
what are the 2 types of peritoneum?
parietal and visceral
function of the parietal peritoneum
lines abdominal wall
function of the visceral peritoneum
covers the surface of most abdominal organs
mesenteries
double layers of parietal peritoneum, pathways for blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics; suspend and stabilize organs
viscera
abdominal organs
greater omentum
specialized fatty mesentery that overlies the ventral abdomen
solid viscera
maintain a characteristic shape (liver, spleen, pancreas, adrenal glands, kidneys, ovaries, uterus)
hollow viscera
shape depends on contents (stomach, gallbladder, small intestine, colon, bladder)
spleen
soft mass of lymphatic tissue, LUQ, not normally palpable
aorta
to the left of midline in the upper part of the abdomen, palpable pulsations
pancreas
soft, lobulated gland located behind the stomach
kidneys
bean-shaped, behind the peritoneal cavity along the posterior abdominal wall