Lecture 3: Peritoneal Cavity and Mesenteries

Question 1

What are the boundaries of the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity?

Answer 1

Anterior: Anterior Abdominal Wall
Posterior: Posterior Abdominal Wall

Superior: Respiratory diaphragm
Inferior: Floor of Pelvic Diagram

Question 2

What does the parietal peritoneum cover?

Answer 2

Inner surfaces of abdominal wall

Question 3

What does the visceral peritoneum cover?

Answer 3

Abdominal organs

Question 4

What are the functions of the peritoneum?

Answer 4

1. Lubrication: peritoneum produces serous, peritoneal fluid
2. Minimize friction between abdominal organs
3. Resists infection

Question 5

What are the two subdivisions of the peritoneal cavity?

Answer 5

Lesser and greater sacs

-potential spaces between the parietal and visceral peritoneum, containing parietal fluid

Question 6

Where is the lesser sac (omental bursa) located?

Answer 6

Between lesser and greater omentum, behind the stomach and liver

Question 7

How does the lesser and greater sacs communicate with each other?

Answer 7

Epiploic foramen

Question 8

What separates the supracolic and infracolic compartment?

Answer 8

Transverse mesocolon

Question 9

What is found in the supracolic compartment?

Answer 9

Stomach
Liver
Spleen

Question 10

What is found in the infracolic compartment?

Answer 10

Small Intestine
Ascending Colon
Descending Colon

Question 11

What are the boundaries of the epiploic foramen?

Answer 11

Anterior: Hepatoduodenal Ligament
Posterior: Inferior Vena Cava

Superior: Caudate Lobe of Liver
Inferior: 1st part of duodenum

Question 12

What is mesentery?

Answer 12

Double layered peritoneal membrane attached to the posterior abdominal wall, jejunum, and ileum

Question 13

What is the function of the mesentery?

Answer 13

Contains arteries, veins, nerves and lymphatic structures for abdominal organs

Question 14

What two structures make up the lesser omentum?

Answer 14

Hepatoduodenal Ligament

Hepatogastric Ligament

Question 15

What structures are found in the hepatoduodenal ligament?

Answer 15

Portal Triad:
Common Bile Duct
Portal Vein
Hepatic Artery

Question 16

Where is the lesser omentum found?

Answer 16

From lesser curvature of the stomach and first part of duodenum to liver

Question 17

Where is the greater omentum found?

Answer 17

From greater curvature of the stomach and first part of duodenum to transverse colon

Question 18

What is a peritoneal ligament?

Answer 18

Two layers of peritoneum that connect one organ with another organ or abdominal wall

Question 19

What does the falciform ligament connect?

Answer 19

Anterior liver to anterior abdominal wall

Question 20

What is the peritoneal recess?

Answer 20

Spaces formed by peritoneum folds over viscera

Question 21

What can cause peritonitis?

Answer 21

1. Bursed viscera (e.g. ruptured appendix)
2. Perforated viscera (e.g. gastric ulcer)
3. Physical trauma to viscera

Question 22

What is ascites?

What is the main cause of it?

Answer 22

Collection of fluid in peritoneal cavity

-81% cases due to cirrhosis of liver

Question 23

What are paracolic gutters?

Answer 23

Peritoneal lined spaces adjacent to ascending and descending colon

• recesses between the abdominal wall and the colon
• allow a passage for infectious fluids from different compartments of the abdomen

Question 24

What is the subphrenic recess?

Answer 24

Peritoneal lined space between diaphragm and liver

Question 25

What can cause fluid to enter lesser sac/omental bursa?

Answer 25

1. Perforated posterior stomach wall
2. Pancreatitis
3. Trauma to pancreas