PERITONEUM

Peritoneum

1. Define peritoneum Peritoneum is a thin membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers the abdominal organs.

2. Describe greater sac, lesser sac and epiploic foramen

   • Greater sac: It is the larger part of the peritoneal cavity, extending from the diaphragm to the pelvic cavity.
   • Lesser sac: Also known as Omental bursa, it is a small pouch-like space located on the posterior abdominal wall.
   • Epiploic foramen: It is a passage that connects the greater sac with the lesser sac, located between the liver and the pancreas.

3. Describe folds of peritoneum Folds of peritoneum are the peritoneal sacs that fold over the abdominal organs to secure them in place. Some of the main folds include:

   • Omental bursa (lesser sac)
   • Rectouterine pouch (Douglas's pouch)
   • Rectovesical pouch
   • Hepatorenal pouch (Mortons pouch)

4. Describe recto-uterine pouch and hepatorenal pouch

   • Rectouterine pouch (Douglas's pouch): It is a pouch-like space located between the rectum and the uterus.
   • Hepatorenal pouch (Mortons pouch): It is a pouch-like space located between the liver and the kidney.

5. Define mesoappendix, transverse mesocolon and sigmoid mesocolon

   • Mesoappendix: It is a peritoneal fold that connects the appendix to the caecum.
   • Transverse mesocolon: It is a peritoneal fold that connects the transverse colon to the posterior abdominal wall.
   • Sigmoid mesocolon: It is a peritoneal fold that connects the sigmoid colon to the left pelvic wall.

6. Peritoneal cavity The peritoneal cavity is the space between the parietal peritoneum that lines the abdominal cavity and the visceral peritoneum that covers the abdominal organs.

7. Blood supply of peritoneum The peritoneum receives blood supply from the branches of the abdominal aorta, including the inferior phrenic arteries, the superior mesenteric arteries, and the inferior mesenteric arteries.

8. Lymphatic drainage of peritoneum The peritoneum drains lymph through the lymphatic vessels into the abdominal lymph nodes.

9. Development of peritoneum The peritoneum develops from the endoderm of the midgut and the ectoderm of the body wall.