Peritoneal Cavities and Mesenteries

Question 1

Parietal peritoneum vs visceral peritoneum

Answer 1

Parietal- Lines the inner surfaces of the abdominal walls

Visceral- Covers many of the abdominal organs

Question 2

Boundaries of the peritoneal cavity

Answer 2

Anterior- anterior abdominal wall
Posterior- posterior abdominal wall
Superior- respiratory diaphragm
Inferior- floor of the pelvic cavity

Question 3

Functions of the peritoneum

Answer 3

Produce peritoneal fluid which lubricates the peritoneum
Minimize friction b/w the abdominal organs
Store fat- especially the greater omentum
Resist infection by:
-producing antibodies
-producing leukocytes
-localizing infection

Question 4

Lesser sac subdivision of peritoneal cavity

Answer 4

AKA omental bursa
Located b/w lesser and greater omentum (posterior to lesser omentum, stomach and caudate lobe of liver)
Communicates with the greater sac via the epiploic foramen

Question 5

Greater sac subdivision of peritoneal cavity

Answer 5

Main/larger portion of peritoneal cavity

Incision through anterior/lateral abdominal wall enters the greater sac

Question 6

Female communication from external world to peritoneal cavity

Answer 6

Communication through the uterine tubes, uterine cavity and vagina to the external world, provides a potential pathway for infection from the exterior to the peritoneal cavity

Question 7

Borders of epiploic foramen

Answer 7

Anterior- hepatoduodenal ligament
Superior- reflection of peritoneum from the liver (caudate lobe) onto the front of the inferior vena cava
Inferior- duodenum
Posterior- parietal peritoneum covering the inferior vena cava

Question 8

Mesentery

Answer 8

Double layered membrane of peritoneum, which provides a channel through which vessels, nerves and lymphatics travel to reach various abdominal organs
Mesentery is attached to the posterior abdominal wall, jejunum and ileum, where the blood and nerve supply to the abdominal viscera originates

Question 9

Omentum

Answer 9

A mesentery extending from the stomach to adjacent organs

Question 10

Lesser omentum

Answer 10

Attaches the lesser curvature of the stomach and first part of the duodenum to the liver
Consists of hepatogastric (lesser curvature of stomach to the liver) and hepatoduodenal (1st part of duodenum to the liver) ligaments

Question 11

Greater omentum

Answer 11

Attaches the greater curvature of the stomach and the 1st part of the duodenum to the transverse colon
Consists of gastrocolic ligament (greater curvature of stomach to the transverse colon), gastrosphrenic and gastrosplenic ligaments

Question 12

Gastrophrenic ligament

Answer 12

Attaches fundus of stomach to the diaphragm

Question 13

Gastrosplenic ligament

Answer 13

Attaches the stomach to the hilum of the spleen

Question 14

Falciform ligament

Answer 14

Attaches the liver to the anterior abdominal wall

Question 15

Peritoneal recess

Answer 15

A pouch of peritoneum formed by a peritoneal fold, such as the inferior recess of the omental bursa (b/w the layers of the greater omentum)

Question 16

Peritonitis causes

Answer 16

Bursed viscera (e.g. ruptured appendix)
Perforated viscera (e.g. perforated gastric ulcer)
Physical trauma to viscera (e.g. knife/bullet wound)

Question 17

Ascites

Answer 17

Collection of fluid in the peritoneal cavity
Caused by: (order of most to least common)
Cirrhosis (81% of the time)
Cancer
Heart failure
Tuberculosis
Dialysis
Pancreatic disease

Question 18

Subphrenic recess

Answer 18

Peritoneal lined space b/w diaphragm and liver

Question 19

Causes for fluid in omental bursa

Answer 19

Perforated stomach wall
Pancreatitis
Trauma to pancreas

Question 20

Transverse mesocolon

Answer 20

Attaches transverse colon to posterior abdomonal wall

Transverse colon divides peritoneal cavity into supracolic and infracolic compartments

Question 21

Supracolic compartment

Answer 21

Contains the stomach, liver and spleen

Question 22

Infracolic compartment

Answer 22

Lies posterior to greater omentum

Contains the small intestine, ascending colon and descending colon

Question 23

Peritoneal recess

Answer 23

A pouch of peritoneum formed by a peritoneal fold, such as the inferior recess of the omental bursa (b/w the layers of the greater omentum)

Question 24

Retroperitoneal organs

Answer 24

Organs that are posterior to peritoneal space and only covered by visceral peritoneum anteriorly
Kidneys, adrenal gland, ureter

Question 25

Intraperitoneal organs

Answer 25

Completely enwrapped in visceral peritoneum

Liver, spleen, stomach, upper duodenum, jejunum, ileum, transverse/sigmoid colon and upper rectum