Peritoneal Cavity

Question 1

what is the peritoneal cavity

Answer 1

otential space between the parietal and visceral peritoneum.

Question 2

what does the peritoneal cavity contain and what does the content do

Answer 2

only a thin film of peritoneal fluid, which consists of water, electrolytes, leukocytes and antibodies. This fluid acts as a lubricant, enabling free movement of the abdominal viscera, and the antibodies in the fluid fight infection

Question 3

why is the peritoneal cavity a potential space

Answer 3

because excess fluid can accumulate in it

Question 4

what are the subdivisions of the peritoneal cavity

Answer 4

the greater and lesser peritoneal sacs.

Question 5

what is in the greater sace of the peritoneal cavity

Answer 5

comprises the majority of the peritoneal cavity

Question 6

what is sie and location of the lesser sac of the pertoneal cavity

Answer 6

smaller and lies posterior to the stomach and lesser omentum.

Question 7

what divides the greater sac of the peritoneal cavity

Answer 7

the mesentery of the transverse colon (known as the transverse mesocolon)

Question 8

what is the supracolic compartment and what does it contain

Answer 8

– lies above the transverse mesocolon and contains the stomach, liver and spleen.

Question 9

what is the infracolic compartment, what does it contain and what is it further divided into and what by if at all

Answer 9

lies below the transverse mesocolon and contains the small intestine, ascending and descending colon. The infracolic compartment is further divided into left and right infracolic spaces by the mesentery of the small intestine.

Question 10

what connects the supracolic and infracolic compartments and where is the connection

Answer 10

he supracolic and infracolic compartments are connected by the paracolic gutters which lie between the posterolateral abdominal wall and the lateral aspect of the ascending or descending colon.

Question 11

what does the lesseer sac akkiw teh stimach to do

Answer 11

move freely against the structures posterior and inferior to it.

Question 12

what connects the lesser and greater sac and where is it

Answer 12

through an opening in in the omental bursa – the epiploic foramen (of Winslow). The epiploic foramen is situated posterior to the free edge of the lesser omentum (the hepatoduodenal ligament).

Question 13

when you sit upright or stand. where would any superfluous fluid (which could be blood, pus, or infected fluid) likely to collect

Answer 13

most inferior portion of the peritoneal cavity.

Question 14

in males what is the rectrovesicular pouch?

Answer 14

is a double folding of peritoneum located between the rectum and the bladder.

Question 15

is the peritoneal cavity is completely closed in males r females

Answer 15

males

Question 16

what is the Rectouterine pouch (of Douglas)

Answer 16

double folding of the peritoneum between the rectum and the posterior wall of the uterus.

Question 17

what is theVesicouterine pouch

Answer 17

double folding of peritoneum between the anterior surface of the uterus and the bladder.

Question 18

why is The peritoneal cavity is not completely closed in females

Answer 18

the uterine tubes open into the peritoneal cavity, providing a potential pathway between the female genital tract and the abdominal cavity

Question 19

why is ctual passage of infectious material into the peritoneum rare

Answer 19

due to the presence of a mucous plug in the external os (opening) of the uterus which prevents the passage of pathogens but allows sperm to enter the uterus.