The abdominal cavity,

the peritoneum

& the peritoneal cavity

By

Dr. Noura El TahawyFaculty of Medicine

El Minia University

• Superficial

view of

• the abdominal

• organs

Peritoneum

• Sagittal section

through the

abdominopelvic

cavity

• The larger part of the abdominopelvic cavity

• BOUNDARIES

• Superiorly: diaphragm

• Inferiorly: Pelvic inlet

• A large part is under the cover of the osteocartilaginous thoracic cage

• Walls are lined by the parietal peritoneum

Abdominal cavity

proper

• Thin transparent serous membrane that consists of 2 layers:

• 1. PARIETAL PERITONEUM –lines the abdominal cavity

• 2. VISCERAL PERITONEUM –invests the abdominal viscera

• Composed of a single

layer of squamous

epithelial cells

(mesothelium)

• The 2 layers are

separated by a capillary

film of peritoneal fluid.

PERITONEAL DERIVATIVES: Definition

Peritoneal

Derivatives

From To

Ligaments Solid viscera Abdominal wall

Omentum Stomach Another viscus

Mesentery Parts of the intestine Posterior abdominal wall

Peritoneal Derivative From To

Ligaments

Falciform ligament

Solid viscera

liver

Abdominal wall

Diaphragm and anterior

abdominal wall

PERITONEAL DERIVATIVES: Examples

Peritoneal cavity

• DEFINITION

• The potential space between the parietal and

visceral layers of the peritoneum

• MALES: closed cavity

• FEMALES: (+) communication with the

exterior through the reproductive tract

(fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina)

• As the fetal

organs assume

their adult

positions, the

parietal cavity

is divided into

the 2 peritoneal

sacs:

1. the greater sac

2. the lesser sac

(omental bursa)

Divisions of the peritoneal cavity

Peritoneal cavity

• GREATER SAC

• Main compartment of

the peritoneal cavity

• Extends from the

diaphragm into the

pelvis

• LESSER SAC

• Smaller

• Lies behind the

stomach

The communication between

the greater sac and the lesser sac is the

EPIPLOIC FORAMEN

Peritoneal Derivative From To

Omentum

Greater omentum

Lesser omentum

Hepatogastric ligament

Hepatoduodenal

ligament

Gastrosplenic

omentum

(ligament)

Stomach

Greater curvature

Lesser curvature

Stomach

Another viscus

Transverse colon

Undersurface of the liver

Hilum of the spleen

PERITONEAL DERIVATIVES: Examples

Greater Omentum

Lesser Omentum & Lesser sac

• Superficial

view of

• the abdominal

• organs

• Sagittal section

through the

abdominopelvic

cavity

Hepatogastric Ligament

Hepatogastric

ligament

Epiploic

foramen

Contents: The Portal Triad

• Proper hepatic a , Portal v, Common bile duct

Hepatoduodenal Ligament

Contents: The Portal Triad

• Proper hepatic a

• Portal v

• Common bile duct

Common

bile duct

Common

bile duct

Portal veinPortal vein

Proper

hepatic

artery

Proper

hepatic

artery

Boundaries of

Epiploic foramen

Boundaries of Epiploic foramen

Epiploic foramen

Epiploic foramen

Mesentery

Peritoneal Derivative From To

Mesentery

Mesogastrium

Mesentery of the small

intestine

Transverse mesocolon

Sigmoid mesocolon

Parts of the intestine

Stomach

Small intestine

Transverse colon

Sigmoid colon

Posterior abdominal

wall

Posterior abdominal wall

Posterior abdominal wall

Posterior abdominal wall

Posterior abdominal wall

PERITONEAL DERIVATIVES: Examples

Mesentery

of the small intestine

Transverse

mesocolon

PERITONEAL ORGANS

INTRAPERITONEAL ORGANSRETROPERITONEAL ORGANS

When an organ is

almost entirely covered

by visceral peritoneum

When an organ is

partially covered

by visceral peritoneum.

The organ lies

behind the peritoneum.Kidneys

Suprarenal glands

Pancreas

Part of the duodenum

Ascending colon

Descending colon

PERITONEAL ORGANS

INTRAPERITONEAL ORGANSRETROPERITONEAL ORGANS

When an organ is

almost entirely covered

by visceral peritoneum

When an organ is

partially covered

by visceral peritoneum.

The organ lies

behind the peritoneum.Kidneys

Suprarenal glands

Pancreas

Part of the duodenum

Ascending colon

Descending colon

Primary peritoneal

organs

Secondary peritoneal

organs

EXTRAPERITONEAL ORGANS

• Organs devoid of

peritoneal lining

• Rectum

PERITONEAL RECESSES

• Subphrenic recess

• Hepatorenal recess

• Paracolic gutter

Description and significance

SUBPHRENIC RECESS

• The existence is due to the complicated arrangement of the peritoneum in the region of the liver

• Right and left anterior subphrenic spaces

• Right posterior subphrenic space

• Right extraperitonealspace

SUBPHRENIC RECESS

• Right and left anterior

subphrenic spaces

• between the diaphragm and the

Iiver on each side of the falciform

ligament

SUBPHRENIC RECESS

• Right posterior subphrenic

space

• between the right lobe of the

liver, the right kidney and the

right colic flexure

Anterior and Posterior

Subphrenic AbscessAnterior

Posterior

SUBPHRENIC RECESS

• Right extraperitoneal space

• between the layers of the

coronary ligament

HEPATORENAL RECESS

• Located between the

inferior surface of the

right lobe of the liver

and the right kidney

PARACOLIC GUTTER

• Results form the

arrangement of the

ascending and

descending colons,

attachment of the

transverse mesocolon,

and the mesentery of

the small intestine to

the abdominal wall

PARACOLIC GUTTER

• 4 gutters

• Lie in the lateral and

medial side of the

ascending and

descending colons

respectively

PARACOLIC GUTTER

• Right lateral paracolic gutter

– In communication with the

right posterior subphrenic

space

• Right medial paracolic gutter

– Closed off from the peritoneal

cavity by the mesentery of the

small intestines

• Left lateral paracolic gutter

– Separated from the area

around the spleen by the

phrenicocolic ligament

• Left medial paracolic gutter

PARACOLIC GUTTER

• Right lateral paracolic gutter

– In communication with the

right posterior

subphrencicspace

• Right medial paracolic gutter

– Closed off from the peritoneal

cavity by the mesentery of the

small intestines

• Left lateral paracolic gutter

– Separated from the area

around the spleen by the

phrenicocolic ligament

• Left medial paracolic gutter

PARACOLIC GUTTER

• Right lateral paracolic gutter

– In communication with the

right posterior subphrenic

space

• Right medial paracolic gutter

– Closed off from the peritoneal

cavity by the mesentery of the

small intestines

• Left lateral paracolic gutter

– Separated from the area

around the spleen by the

phrenicocolic ligament

• Left medial paracolic gutter

The Subphrenic Spaces

and the Paracolic Gutters

• Clinically important !

• Sites for the collection and movement of

infected peritoneal fluid

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