The Peritoneum Flashcards
what is the peritoneum?
a very thin, semi-permeable serous membrane that lines the walls of the abdominopelvic cavity and covers the abdominal organs
what does the peritoneum support and provide a pathway for?
supports viscera
pathway for blood vessels and lymph
what are the 2 continuous layers of the peritoneum?
parietal peritoneum
visceral peritoneum
what are both layers of the peritoneum composed of
simple squamous epithelium - mesothelium
what does the parietal peritoneum line?
the internal abdominopelvic wall
why is pain in the parietal peritoneum localised?
because it has the same nerve supply as the part of the abdominal cavity it lines
what does the visceral peritoneum cover?
it invaginate and covers most of the abdominal viscera
why is visceral peritoneum pain poorly localised?
it has the same autonomic nerve supply as the viscera
the pain is referred to areas of the skin (dermatomes) that are supplied by the sae same sensory ganglia and spinal cord segments as the nerve fibres innervating the viscera
what is the peritoneal cavity?
a potential space between the parietal and visceral peritoneum
what does the peritoneal cavity normally contain?
a small amount of lubricating fluid
what does intraperitoneal mean?
the visceral peritoneum covers the organ both anteriorly and posteriorly - enveloped
what are intraperitoneal organs?
stomach
spleen
liver
first and fourth parts of duodenum
jejunum
ileum
transverse colon
sigmoid colon
what does retroperitoneal mean?
there is no association with the visceral peritoneum and the parietal peritoneum only covers the anterior surface
what are examples of retroperitoneal organs?
rectum
oesophagus
ascending colon
descending colon
kidneys
what is mesentery?
a double layer of visceral peritoneum
very mobile
what does mesentery usually connect?
intraperitoneal organs and the abdominal wall
what does mesentery provide a path for?
for nerves, blood vessels and lymphatics to travel from the body wall to the viscera
an example of where mesentery is found?
parts of the intestines
what is omenta?
sheets of visceral pleura that extend form the stomach and Proxima duodenum to other abdominal organs?
what is the greater omentum?
omentum that descends from the greater curvature of the stomach and proximal duodenum and folds back up attaching to the anterior surface of the transverse colon?
what is the lesser omentum?
omentum descending from the lesser curvature of the stomach and the proximal duodenum and attaches to the liver
what are peritoneal ligaments?
double folds of peritoneum that either connect viscera together or connect viscera to the abdominal wall
what is the hepatogastric ligament?
a portion of the lesser omentum that connects the liver to the stomach
what is the greater sac?
the larger portion of the peritoneal cavity
what further divides the greater sac?
mesentery and transverse colon
what are the two compartments of the greater sac?
supracolic compartment
infracolic compartment
where is the supracolic compartment and what does it contain?
above the transverse mesocolon
contains stomach, liver and speel
where is the infra colic compartment and what does it contain?
below the transverse mesocolon
contains small intestine, ascending colon and descending colon
where is the lesser sac?
lies posterior to the stomach and lesser omentum
where does the lesser sac connect to the greater sac?
through the epiploic foramen
where is the epiploic foramen?
posterior to the free edge of the lesser omentum - hepatoduodenal ligament
what is arctic fluid?
excess fluid in the peritoneal cavity due to pathology
what can drain ascitic fluid?
paracentesis
where must the needle be placed for a paracentesis and why?
lateral to the rectus sheath
to avoid the inferior epigastric artery
