The Canine Abdomen

Question 1

What are the cranial and caudal boundaries of the abdominal cavity?

Answer 1

Cranial = the diaphragm
Caudal = upper plane of the pelvic cavity

Question 2

What type of membrane is the peritoneum and where is it found?

Answer 2

Serous membrane
This lines the abdominal cavity

Question 3

What is the peritoneum made of?

Answer 3

A layer of mesothelial cells supported by a thin layer of connective tissue.

Question 4

Where is the peritoneal cavity?

Answer 4

Between the parietal peritoneum and the visceral peritoneum.

Question 5

What are retroperitoneal organs?

Answer 5

Organs that are not suspended by mesentery.
Lie between the abdominal wall and the parietal peritoneum.

Question 6

What is the linea alba?

Answer 6

• White line running down the ventral midline
• Dense collagenous bands
• Extends from xiphoid process to the prepubic tendon

Question 7

What structures fuse to make the linea alba?

Answer 7

Fascias of the transverse abdominal muscle and internal and external abdominal obliques.

Question 8

What does the linea alba contain?

Answer 8

A palpable umbilical scar

Question 9

What are the 4 muscles present in the canine abdomen?

Answer 9

• External abdominal oblique
• Internal abdominal oblique
• Rectus abdominis
• Transverse abdominis

Question 10

What are the origin and insertion points of the external abdominal oblique?

Answer 10

Origin = Last ribs
Insertion = An aponeurosis that inserts onto the linea alba

Question 11

Which direction do the fibres run in the external abdominal oblique?

Answer 11

Caudoventrally

Question 12

What are the origin and insertion points of the internal abdominal oblique?

Answer 12

Origin = Thoracolumbar fascia
Insertion = Rectus abdominis and linea alba. (by wide aponeurosis)

Question 13

What direction do the fibres run in the internal abdominal oblique.

Answer 13

Cranioventrally

Question 14

What is the difference between fascia and aponeurosis?

Answer 14

Collagen fibres in fascia run in random directions whereas aponeurosis have collagen fibres that run in one direction.

Question 15

Where are the origin and insertion points of the transversus abdominis?

Answer 15

Origin = Transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae
Insertion = Aponeurosis onto linea alba

Question 16

What direction do the fibres run in the transversus abdominis?

Answer 16

Transversely

Question 17

Where are the origin and insertion points of the rectus abdominis?

Answer 17

Origin = Sternum
Insertion = Prepubic tendon

Question 18

What direction do the fibres run in rectus abdominis?

Answer 18

Craniocaudally

Question 19

What is the difference between tendons and aponeurosis?

Answer 19

Tendons have small, well-defined bundles of collagen fibres, whereas aponeurosis has flat sheets of collagen fibres.

Question 20

What is the inguinal canal?

Answer 20

A short pathway through the abdominal muscles (in both sexes) for the vaginal process and the descent of the testis

Question 21

What can be found within the inguinal canal?

Answer 21

External inguinal ring and internal inguinal ring.

Question 22

What are the main blood vessels supplying the abdominal cavity?

Answer 22

• Cranial superficial epigastric artery and vein
• Caudal superficial epigastric artery and vein

Question 23

What is mesentery?

Answer 23

A ouble layer of peritoneum that connects organs to the body wall (gives pathway to nerves, blood vessels and lymphatic ducts)

Question 24

What is omentum?

Answer 24

A double layer of peritoneum from the stomach or proximal part of the duodenum

Question 25

What blood vessel supplies the liver, stomach, pancreas and spleen?

Answer 25

Coeliac artery

Question 26

What are anastomosis?

Answer 26

Branches of blood vessels that all connect to one another.

Question 27

What is the name of the artery supplying the midgut?

Answer 27

Cranial mesenteric artery/ caudal mesenteric artery artery

Question 28

What vein supplies the liver?

Answer 28

Portal vein