General Abdomen Flashcards
What are the attachments of the greater omentum?
Hangs from the greater curvature of the stomach to the transverse colon.
What is the function of the greater omentum?
‘Abdominal policeman’ - rich vascular supply and delivers WBCs to areas of inflammation or infection.
What are the attachments of the lesser omentum?
Lesser curvature of stomach to porta hepatis of the liver.
What is the greater sac and what can it be subdivided into.
A cavity within the peritoneal cavity.
Divided into the supracolic and infracolic compartments by the transverse colon.
Where is the lesser sac/omental bursa?
Posterior to the stomach and lesser omentum.
What provides the only communication between the greater and lesser sac?
The epipoloic foramen.
What is the function of the lesser sac?
To allow the stomach to move freely against posterior and inferiorly situated organs.
What are the subphrenic/diaphragmatic spaces and how are they separated?
Recesses in the greater sac between the diaphragm and liver. Separated by the falciform ligament into left and right spaces.
What is the clinical relevance of the subphrenic spaces?
If a hollow organs bursts/punctures, there is generally blackness on x-ray in the subphrenic spaces.
Why might pain occur in the shoulder region if a hollow organ bursts?
C3,4 and 5 supply the sensory input of the diaphragm and shoulder causing referred pain to the shoulder.
What organs are retroperitoneal?
SAD PUCKER
Suprarenal glands Abdominal aorta and IVC Duodenum Pancreas Ureters Colon (ascending and descending parts) Kidneys Oesophagus Rectum
What are the functions of the peritoneum?
Support viscera and provide a pathway for blood vessels and lymphatics
What connects supra colic and infra colic compartments?
The paracolic gutters.
These drain away infectious material from important organs.
What is mesentery and what is its function?
Double fold of visceral peritoneum.
Provides a pathway from nerves, vessels and lymphatics.
