Lecture 3: Peritoneal Cavity and Mesenteries Flashcards
What are the boundaries of the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity?
Anterior: Anterior Abdominal Wall
Posterior: Posterior Abdominal Wall
Superior: Respiratory diaphragm
Inferior: Floor of Pelvic Diagram
What does the parietal peritoneum cover?
Inner surfaces of abdominal wall
What does the visceral peritoneum cover?
Abdominal organs
What are the functions of the peritoneum?
- Lubrication: peritoneum produces serous, peritoneal fluid
- Minimize friction between abdominal organs
- Resists infection
What are the two subdivisions of the peritoneal cavity?
Lesser and greater sacs
-potential spaces between the parietal and visceral peritoneum, containing parietal fluid
Where is the lesser sac (omental bursa) located?
Between lesser and greater omentum, behind the stomach and liver
How does the lesser and greater sacs communicate with each other?
Epiploic foramen
What separates the supracolic and infracolic compartment?
Transverse mesocolon
What is found in the supracolic compartment?
Stomach
Liver
Spleen
What is found in the infracolic compartment?
Small Intestine
Ascending Colon
Descending Colon
What are the boundaries of the epiploic foramen?
Anterior: Hepatoduodenal Ligament
Posterior: Inferior Vena Cava
Superior: Caudate Lobe of Liver
Inferior: 1st part of duodenum
What is mesentery?
Double layered peritoneal membrane attached to the posterior abdominal wall, jejunum, and ileum
What is the function of the mesentery?
Contains arteries, veins, nerves and lymphatic structures for abdominal organs
What two structures make up the lesser omentum?
Hepatoduodenal Ligament
Hepatogastric Ligament
What structures are found in the hepatoduodenal ligament?
Portal Triad:
Common Bile Duct
Portal Vein
Hepatic Artery
Where is the lesser omentum found?
From lesser curvature of the stomach and first part of duodenum to liver
Where is the greater omentum found?
From greater curvature of the stomach and first part of duodenum to transverse colon
What is a peritoneal ligament?
Two layers of peritoneum that connect one organ with another organ or abdominal wall
What does the falciform ligament connect?
Anterior liver to anterior abdominal wall
What is the peritoneal recess?
Spaces formed by peritoneum folds over viscera
What can cause peritonitis?
- Bursed viscera (e.g. ruptured appendix)
- Perforated viscera (e.g. gastric ulcer)
- Physical trauma to viscera
What is ascites?
What is the main cause of it?
Collection of fluid in peritoneal cavity
-81% cases due to cirrhosis of liver
What are paracolic gutters?
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
What is the subphrenic recess?
Peritoneal lined space between diaphragm and liver