Posterior Abdominal Wall Flashcards
Where is the posterior abdominal wall
Region behind the abdominal cavity
Where does the posterior abdominal wall extend
Attachments of the diaphragm above to the pelvic brim below
What does the posterior abdominal wall consist of
Lumbar spine
Psoas and quadratus lumborum muscles
Which structures run along the posterior abdominal wall
Inferior vena cava
Aorta with its associate autonomic plexuses and lymph node
Sympathetic trunks on either side of the lumbar spine
Laterally where do the ureters pass down from the kidney towards the pelvis
Psoas muscle
Do the gonadal vessels run down over or under the ureters to supply the gonads
Over
What forms the lumbar plexus
Lumbar spinal nerves L1-L4
What does the lumbar plexus give rise to
Several branches which innervate the skin and muscles of the abdominal wall and thigh
What are branches of the lumbar plexus which can be located on the posterior abdominal wall
Iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves
Genitofemoral nerve
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
Femoral nerve
Obturator nerve
What do the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves supply
The anterior abdominal wall muscles
skin of the external genitalia
What do the genitofemoral nerves supply
Skin of the external genitalia
What does the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve supply
Skin over the lateral thigh
What is another term for the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
Lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh
What does the femoral nerve supply
Large nerve
The muscles and skin of the anterior thigh
What does the obturator nerve supply
Muscles and skin of the medial thigh
Where does the thoracic aorta pierce the diaphragm
T12 vertebra
What does the thoracic aorta become
Abdominal aorta
Which side does the abdominal aorta descend
Posterior wall just left of the midline
What do the abdominal aorta terminate into
Bifurcate into left and right common iliac arteries
Where do the abdominal aorta terminate
L4
What does the abdominal aorta give rise to
Paired and unpaired branches
What are the unpaired branches of the abdominal aorta
Coeliac trunk
Superior mesenteric artery
Inferior mesenteric artery
What are the paired branches of the abdominal aorta
Renal arteries
Adrenal arteries
Gonadal arteries
Lumbar arteries
What is the inferior vena cava formed by
Left and right common iliac veins
What level is the inferior vena cava start
L5
Where does the inferior vena cava ascend
Posterior abdominal wall just right of the midline
What drains into the inferior vena cava
Paired arterial branches from abdominal aorta
Hepatic veins
What is the exception to the drainage into the inferior vena cava
Left gonadal vein typically drains into left renal vein
