Peritoneum

Question 1

What is the peritoneum?

Answer 1

a thin transparent serous membrane lining abdominopelvic cavity and clothing the viscera

Question 2

Describe the layers of the peritoneum?

Answer 2

1. parietal - lines abdominal wall

2. visceral - closely covers viscera

Question 3

What is the peritoneal cavity?

Answer 3

potential space between the parietal and visceral peritoneum filled with peritoneal fluid

Question 4

Function of peritoneal fluid?

Answer 4

the serous fluid lubricates peritoneal surfaces - facilitates free movement between viscera

Question 5

What is extraperitoneal tissue?

Answer 5

layers of connective tissue between parietal peritoneum and the abdominal wall - has fat

Question 6

Where is the abdominopelvic cavity located?

Answer 6

between thoracic diaphragm and pelvic diaphragm

Question 7

What are the 2 transverse planes?

Answer 7

1. subcostal - passing through the inferior limits of the costal margin : 10th costal cartilages 2. transtubercular plane - passes through the iliac tubercles

Question 8

What are the 2 vertical planes?

Answer 8

midclavicular planes

Question 9

What are the 6 regions the cavity is divided into by the planes?

Answer 9

1. right and left hypochondriac 2. epigastric 3. umblical 4. pubic 5. right and left lumbar 6. right and left inguinal

Question 10

What are the retroperitoneal organs?

Answer 10

1. Part of Duodenum 2. ascending colon 3. descending colon 4. pancreas 5. kidneys 6. ureters 7. IVC 8. aorta

Question 11

What are the intraperitoneal organs?

Answer 11

1. stomach 2. spleen 3. jejunum

Question 12

Describe the peritoneal cavity in males?

Answer 12

closed

Question 13

Describe the peritoneal cavity in females?

Answer 13

peritoneal cavity communicates with exterior through uterine tubes, uterus and vagina

Question 14

Describe the greater sac?

Answer 14

the main peritoneal cavity - surgical incision through anterior abdominal wall enters this sac

Question 15

Describe the lesser sac?

Answer 15

recess posterior to the stomach

Question 16

What is the omental foramen? (foramen of Winslow)

Answer 16

links greater and lesser sacs

Question 17

What are the boundaries of the foramen of Winslow?

Answer 17

1. anterior - free border of lesser omentum 2. posteriorly - inferior vena cava 3. superiorly - caudate process of caudate lobe 4. inferiorly - first part of duodenum

Question 18

What are the types of peritoneal folds?

Answer 18

1. mesentery 2. omentum 3. ligament

Question 19

What is the mesentery?

Answer 19

2 layered fold of peritoneum that attaches intestines to posterior abdominal wall e.g. mesentry of small intestines

Question 20

Function of mesentery?

Answer 20

permit an intestine to be free and mobile

Question 21

What is an omentum?

Answer 21

a 2 layered fold of peritoneum that attaches the stomach to another viscus e.g. greater omentum, lesser omentum, & gastrosplenic omentum (ligament)

Question 22

What are peritoneal ligaments?

Answer 22

2 layered folds of peritoneum that attach viscera to another (usually less mobile) viscera or to abdominal wall e.g. falciform ligament of liver

Question 23

Function of ligament?

Answer 23

restricts mobility by attaching a viscus to another viscus (usually less mobile viscus) or wall

Question 24

What is the peritoneal recess or fossa?

Answer 24

a pouch of peritoneum that is formed by a peritoneal fold e.g. the inferior recess of the omental bursa between the layers of the greater omentum

Question 25

What are paracolic gutters?

Answer 25

arrangement of ascending & descending colon, attachments of trans. Colon and mesentery of small intestines to posterior abdominal wall – results in formation of 4 gutters : 2 meadial and 2 lateral to ascending and descending colons

Question 26

What is the function of gutters?

Answer 26

form communication pathway between abdominal cavity compartments

Question 27

Describe the right medial paracolic gutter?

Answer 27

closed off from pelvic cavity by small intestine mesentery

Question 28

Describe the left lateral paracolic gutter?

Answer 28

closed from subphrenic region by phrenicocolic ligament (fold of peritoneum)

Question 29

What are the functions of the greater omentum?

Answer 29

1. stores fat 2. cushions viscera 3. supports lymph nodes 4. protects against spread ofinfections - can compartmentalize inflamed area e.g. in appendicitis

Question 30

Describe the dorsal mesentry?

Answer 30

1. supports GIT 2. gives small intestine freedom for peristaltic movement 3. provides structure through which intestinal nerves & vessels traverse

Question 31

What is the transverse mesocolon?

Answer 31

mesentry of transverse colon

Question 32

What is the mesoappendix?

Answer 32

mesentry supporting appendix and its vessels

Question 33

What is the falciform ligament?

Answer 33

1. extension of parietal peritoneum reinforced with connective tissue 2. attaches liver to diaphragm & anterior abdominal wall

Question 34

Describe the lesser omentum?

Answer 34

passes from lesser curvature of stomach & upper duodenum to inferior surface of liver ( hepatoduodenal & hepatogastric)

Question 35

Describe the greater omentum?

Answer 35

1. extends from greater curvature of stomach to transverse colon 2. forms an apron like structure over most of small intestines

Question 36

The parietal peritoneum is sensitive to?

Answer 36

1. pain 2. touch 2. pressure 4. temperature

Question 37

Describe the innervation of the parietal peritoneum?

Answer 37

1. Lateral & anterior wall parts (same nerves as overlying muscles) – thoraco-abdominal nerves (T7 –T12 + L1) 2. Central parts (diaphragmatic)- phrenic nerves 3. Peripheral diaphragmatic - T7 – T12 4. Pelvis - obturator nerve

Question 38

The visceral peritoneum is sensitive to?

Answer 38

stretch

Question 39

The visceral perironeum is supplied by?

Answer 39

autonomic afferent nerves

Question 40

What are the functions of peritoneum?

Answer 40

1. Ensures that mobile viscera glide easily upon each other – (peritoneal fluid – lubricant) 2. Defense against infection - Peritoneum coverings of intestines tend to stick together in the face of infections (to seal off infection) 3. Peritoneal folds serve an important role in suspending viscera & serve as a means to convey neurovascular structures to the viscus 4. Storage of fats - Large amount of fat are stored in the peritoneal folds - esp. greater omentum

Question 41

What is peritonitis?

Answer 41

inflammation of the membrane lining the abdominal wall and covering the abdominal organs