OMENTUMFilza Sikandar

Click icon to add picture

One of the folds of the peritoneum that connect the stomach with other abdominal organs, especially the greater omentum or the lesser omentum.

Definition:

o·men·tum ( -m n t m)n. pl. o·men·tums or o·men·ta (-t )One of the folds of the peritoneum that connect the stomach with other abdominal organs, especially the greater omentum or the lesser omentum.

The omentum is like a blanket covering all the intestine. On opening the belly, it's the first

thing seen.

Greater omentumLesser omentum

TYPES

The greater omentum is a large fold of visceral peritoneum that hangs down from the stomach. It extends from the greater curvature of the stomach, passing in front of the small intestines and reflects on itself to ascend to the transverse colon before reaching to the posterior abdominal wall.

Also known as:  great omentum  omentum majus  gastrocolic omentum epiploon in animals, caul( "epiploon" from the Greek "epipleein"

means to float or sail on, since the greater omentum appears to float on the surface of the intestines.)

Embrological Development

The greater omentum develops from the dorsal mesentery that connects the stomach to the posterior abdominal wall

Lesser Omentum

The lesser omentum is the double layer of peritoneum that extends from the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach and the start of the duodenum.

Also known as:

small omentum; gastrohepatic omentum;  Latin: omentum minus

Histology of Omentum

It is loose areolar connective tissue.--Contains all types of cells , fibres and

ground substance. Hence it used for,--packing--anchoring--embedding--joining different tissues

Functions

Fat deposition, having varying amounts of adipose tissue

Immune contribution, having milky spots of macrophage collections

Infection and wound isolation; It may also physically limit the spread of intraperitoneal infections. 

The greater omentum can often be found wrapped around areas of infection and trauma.

Policeman of Abdomen because whenever something goes

wrong, the omentum is there to pile up on it and seal it off. That's it's job. It stuffs up against whatever has inflammation or infection, and it scars down, sealing holes, bringing blood flow and immune function. It's really quite amazing that it does this so well, considering it's just a dumb flap of fat with some blood vessels in it

Omentectomy Omentectomy refers to the surgical

removal of the omentum, a relatively simple procedure with no major side effects, that is performed in cases where there may be spread of cancerous tissue into the omentum. Examples:

 ovarian cancer advanced or aggressive 

endometrial cancer  intestinal cancer.

Difference between Mesentery and Omentum

mesentery is the support tissue that the intestine is rooted into.

The omentum is a fatty blanket that hangs down in front of all of the intestines.

Thank You ;D

The Policeman of abdomen can sometimes be obese