Posterior Abdominal Wall & Associated Structures

Question 1

What do we mean by the “posterior abdominal wall”?

Answer 1

• the retroperitoneal region; the area behind the peritoneal cavity

Question 2

Which abdominal viscera are retroperitoneal?

Answer 2

• SADPUCKER
• suprarenal (adrenal glands), aorta/IVC, duodenum, pancreas, ureters, colon (ascending and descending parts), kidneys, esophagus, rectum
• • = some parts are intraperitoneal

Question 3

What parts of the duodenum are intraperitoneal?

Answer 3

• the duodenal cap (the first 2 cm) and the last portion (where it becomes the jejunum)

Question 4

What parts of the pancreas are intraperitoneal?

Answer 4

• the tail

Question 5

What opens into the peritoneal sac in men? What about in women?

Answer 5

• in men, the peritoneal sac is completely sealed

- in women, the sac has two openings via the fallopian tubes

Question 6

Which organs lie within the peritoneal sac?

Answer 6

• none!

- no organ actually lie within the sac; the abdominal organs are invaginated into the sac, but are not actually in it

Question 7

A reflection of peritoneum that forms a double layer, which sandwiches / “engulfs” intra-abdominal organs is called:

Answer 7

• a mesentery

Question 8

What do we mean by retroperitoneal?

Answer 8

• an organ that is retroperitoneal has the peritoneum only along its anterior surface
• “behind the peritoneal cavity”

Question 9

Peritoneal Ligaments

Answer 9

• these connect viscera together (or viscera to the abdominal wall) via a double fold of peritoneum

Question 10

Coronary Ligaments

Answer 10

• the peritoneal ligaments of the liver that enclose the bare area of the diaphragm

Question 11

Why does the blood supply for the gonads come all the way from the abdominal aorta?

Answer 11

• because the gonads are high up on the dorsal body wall when developing

Question 12

Which abdominal veins drain into the azygous vein?

Answer 12

• the RIGHT ascending lumbar vein (and the right posterior intercostal veins)

Question 13

Which abdominal veins drain into the hemiazygous vein?

Answer 13

• the LEFT ascending lumbar vein (and the left posterior intercostal veins)

Question 14

Where do the azygous and hemiazygous veins drain into?

Answer 14

• the SVC

Question 15

T or F: the left renal vein lies anterior to the aorta.

Answer 15

• true!

- usually, veins lie in front of arteries

Question 16

T or F: both gonadal veins directly join the IVC.

Answer 16

• false!
• only the right gonadal vein directly joins the IVC
• the left gonadal vein dumps into the left renal vein

Question 17

The vagus nerves enter the abdomen with the __________. They are part of the ___________ nervous system.

Answer 17

• they enter with the esophagus

- they are part of the parasympathetic system

Question 18

The part of the stomach that becomes the duodenum is known as:

Answer 18

• the pylorus / pyloric canal

Question 19

The part of the duodenum that becomes the jejunum is known as:

Answer 19

• the DJ (duodenal-jejunal) flexure

Question 20

What is found in the 2nd part of the duodenum?

Answer 20

• the major and minor duodenal papillae

Question 21

The major and minor duodenal papillae are the openings of what into the duodenum?

Answer 21

• they are the openings of the pancreatic and bile ducts
• major: both pancreatic and bile
• minor: only pancreatic

Question 22

In pancreatic development, how many buds/outpouchings are involved? What are they called?

Answer 22

• two buds are involved

- the ventral pancreas and the dorsal pancreas

Question 23

The _______ pancreas rotates around the gut tube to join the ________ pancreas, forming the __________.

Answer 23

• ventral pancreas rotates around to join the dorsal pancreas
• forms the uncinate process of the pancreas

Question 24

What do the pancreatic buds specifically develop into?

Answer 24

• the ventral AND dorsal pancreas form the uncinate process and the head
• the dorsal pancreas forms the body and tail of the pancreas

Question 25

Is the pancreas an exocrine gland or an endocrine gland?

Answer 25

• it is both!

- (exocrine = secretion via ducts, endocrine = direct secretion into bloodstream)

Question 26

Which muscles form the posterior abdominal wall?

Answer 26

• diaphragm, quadratus lumborum, psoas major (minor), and iliacus

Question 27

What are the extensions of the diaphragm running along the vertebrae called?

Answer 27

• each is a crus

- the right crus and left crus

Question 28

How many arcuate ligaments does the diaphragm have? What are they?

Answer 28

• three

- median, medial, and lateral arcuate ligaments

Question 29

Which renal vein is longer?

Answer 29

• the left one

Question 30

Which arteries run along the greater curve of the stomach?

Answer 30

• the right and left gastro-epiploic (gastro-omental) arteries

Question 31

Where does the left gastro-epiploic (gastro-omental) artery arise from? The right?

Answer 31

• left: via the splenic artery

- right: via the gastroduodenal artery via the common hepatic artery

Question 32

From which four arteries do the ureters mainly get their blood supply from?

Answer 32

• from the renal artery, the gonadal artery, the common iliac artery and the internal iliac artery