The peritoneal cavity is a potential space between the parietal peritoneum The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom — it covers most of the intra-abdominal organs — in higher vertebrates and some invertebrates (annelids, for instance). It is composed of a layer of mesothelium supported by a thin layer of connective tissue. The peritoneum both supports the and visceral peritoneum,[1] that is, the two membranes that separate the organs in the abdominal cavity The abdominal cavity is the body cavity of the human body that holds the bulk of the viscera. It is located below (or inferior to) the thoracic cavity, and above the pelvic cavity. It is a part of the abdominopelvic cavity from the abdominal wall. It is one of the spaces derived from the coelomic cavity of the embryo, the others being the pleural cavities In human anatomy, the pleural cavity is the body cavity that surrounds the lungs. The pleura is a serous membrane which folds back upon itself to form a two-layered, membrane structure. The thin space between the two pleural layers is known as the pleural cavity; it normally contains a small amount of pleural fluid. The outer pleura is attached to around the lungs and the pericardial cavity around the heart.

The peritoneal cavity is the largest serosal sac in the body and secretes approximately 50 ml of fluid per day. This fluid acts as a lubricant and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Clinical significance

It is a common injection site, used in intraperitoneal injection Intraperitoneal injection or IP injection is the injection of a substance into the peritoneum . IP injection is more often applied to animals than humans. It is generally preferred when large amounts of blood replacement fluids are needed, or when low blood pressure or other problems prevent the use of a suitable blood vessel for intravenous.

An increase in the capillary pressure in the abdominal viscera can cause fluid to leave the interstital space and enter the peritoneal cavity, a condition called ascites Mild ascites is hard to notice, but severe ascites leads to abdominal distension. Patients with ascites generally will complain of progressive abdominal heaviness and pressure as well as shortness of breath due to mechanical impingement on the diaphragm.

References

  1. ^ peritoneal cavity at Dorland's Medical Dictionary Dorland's is the brand name of a family of medical reference works in various media (including printed books, CD-ROMs, and online content). The flagship products are Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary (currently in its 31st edition) and Dorland's Pocket Medical Dictionary (currently in its 27th edition). The principal dictionary was first

External links

Abdominopelvic cavity The abdominopelvic cavity is a body cavity that consists of the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity. It contains the stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder, kidneys, and most of the small and large intestines. It also contains urinary bladder and internal reproductive organs: Abdomen The human abdomen is the part of the body between the pelvis and the thorax. Anatomically, the abdomen stretches from the thorax at the thoracic diaphragm to the pelvis at the pelvic brim. The pelvic brim stretches from the lumbosacral angle (the intervertebral disk between L5 and S1) to the pubic symphysis and is the edge of the pelvic inlet. The/Abdominal cavity The abdominal cavity is the body cavity of the human body that holds the bulk of the viscera. It is located below (or inferior to) the thoracic cavity, and above the pelvic cavity. It is a part of the abdominopelvic cavity and Pelvis In human anatomy, the pelvis is the part of the trunk inferioposterior (below-behind) to the abdomen in the transition area between the trunk (torso) and the lower limbs (legs). The term is used to denote several structures:/Pelvic cavity The pelvic cavity is a body cavity that is bounded by the bones of the pelvis and which primarily contains reproductive organs, the urinary bladder, and the rectum. The pelvis is a marvel of physiology and is deceptively complex. It contains the lower urinary tract, reproductive system, lower digestive tract, major arteries and veins, muscle and Peritoneal cavity (TA A10 Terminologia Anatomica is the international standard on human anatomic terminology. It was developed by the Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology (FCAT) and the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) and was released in 1998. It supersedes the previous standard, Nomina Anatomica. Terminologia Anatomica contains, GA 4.408 masseter · temporalis · pterygoid (lateral, medial) and GA 11.1147)
Extraperitoneal space Retroperitoneal space · Retropubic space
Peritoneal The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom — it covers most of the intra-abdominal organs — in higher vertebrates and some invertebrates (annelids, for instance). It is composed of a layer of mesothelium supported by a thin layer of connective tissue. The peritoneum both supports the ligaments The study of ligaments is known as desmology, mesenteries In anatomy, the mesentery is the double layer of peritoneum that suspends the jejunum and ileum from the posterior wall of the abdomen. Its meaning, however, is frequently extended to include double layers of peritoneum connecting various components of the abdominal cavity, and folds
Abdominal
From ventral mesentery The cephalic portion of the septum transversum takes part in the formation of the diaphragm, while the caudal portion into which the liver grows forms the ventral mesentery

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: Hepatoduodenal ligament · Hepatogastric ligament The cranial part of the lesser omentum is formed by the hepatogastric ligament (ligamentum hepatogastricum), extending between the liver and stomach. The ligament itself consists of a dense cranial portion (pars densa) and the caudal portion (pars flaccida). Near the stomach, it carries both the right gastric artery and the left gastric artery (

Liver: Coronary ligament The coronary ligament of the liver refers to parts of the peritoneal reflections that hold the liver to the inferior surface of the diaphragm (Left triangular ligament, Right triangular ligament, Hepatorenal ligament The hepatorenal ligament is the fold or pouch of peritoneum that extends from the lower posterior surface of the liver to the anterior surface of the right kidney and forms the right margin of the epiploic foramen) · Falciform ligament The falciform ligament is a ligament which attaches the liver to the anterior body wall. It is a broad and thin antero-posterior peritoneal fold, falciform in shape, its base being directed downward and backward, its apex upward and backward (Round ligament of liver and Ligamentum venosum The ligamentum venosum is the fibrous remnant of the ductus venosus of the fetal circulation. Usually, it is attached to the left branch of the portal vein within the porta hepatis . It may be continuous with the round ligament of liver (ligamentum teres hepatis) in it, but not of it)
From dorsal mesentery The portion of mesentery attached to the greater curvature of the stomach is named the dorsal mesentery , and the part which suspends the colon is termed the mesocolon

Greater omentum The greater omentum is a large fold of peritoneum that hangs down from the stomach, and extends from the stomach to the posterior abdominal wall after associating with the transverse colon. The common anatomical term " epiploic" derives from "epiploon" from the Greek " epipleein" meaning to float or sail on, since the: Gastrophrenic ligament The postero-inferior surface of the stomach is covered by peritoneum, except over a small area close to the cardiac orifice; this area is limited by the lines of attachment of the gastrophrenic ligament, and lies in apposition with the diaphragm, and frequently with the upper portion of the left suprarenal gland · Gastrocolic ligament The gastrocolic ligament is a portion of the greater omentum the stretches from the greater curvature of the stomach to the transverse colon. It forms part of the anterior wall of the lesser sac. Dividing the gastrocolic ligament provides access to the the anterior pancreas and the posterior wall of the stomach. This is commonly done for Whipple · Gastrosplenic ligament The gastrosplenic ligament is a made of peritoneum that connects the greater curvature of stomach with the hilum of the spleen

Mesentery In anatomy, the mesentery is the double layer of peritoneum that suspends the jejunum and ileum from the posterior wall of the abdomen. Its meaning, however, is frequently extended to include double layers of peritoneum connecting various components of the abdominal cavity: Transverse mesocolon · Sigmoid mesocolon · Mesoappendix The mesoappendix is the portion of the mesentery connecting the ileum to the appendix. It may extend to the tip of the appendix. It encloses the appendicular artery and vein, as well as lymphatic vessels, nerves, and often a lymph node · Root of the mesentery

Splenorenal ligament The splenorenal ligament , is derived from the peritoneum, where the wall of the general peritoneal cavity comes into contact with the omental bursa between the left kidney and the spleen; the lienal vessels (splenic artery and vein) pass between its two layers. It contains the tail of the pancreas, the only intraperitoneal portion of the pancreas · Phrenicocolic ligament A fold of peritoneum, the phrenicocolic ligament, is continued from the left colic flexure to the thoracic diaphragm opposite the tenth and eleventh ribs; it passes below and serves to support the spleen, and therefore has received the name of sustentaculum lienis

Folds: Umbilical folds (Supravesical fossa The supravesical fossa is a fossa bounded by the medial umbilical fold and median umbilical fold, Medial inguinal fossa, Lateral inguinal fossa The lateral inguinal fossa is a structure described in human anatomy. It is a shallow concave stretch of peritoneum on the deep surface of the anterior abdominal wall and is best seen from the greater peritoneal cavity, looking anteriorly) · Ileocecal fold
Abdominal cavity The abdominal cavity is the body cavity of the human body that holds the bulk of the viscera. It is located below (or inferior to) the thoracic cavity, and above the pelvic cavity. It is a part of the abdominopelvic cavity Greater sac In human anatomy, the greater sac, also known as the general cavity or peritoneum of the peritoneal cavity proper, is the cavity in the abdomen that is inside the peritoneum but outside of the lesser sac · Omental bursa · Omental foramen
General

Cystohepatic triangle · Hepatorenal recess of subhepatic space · Abdominal wall There is a common set of layers covering and forming all the walls: the deepest being the extraperitoneal fat, the parietal peritoneum, and a layer of fascia, which has different names according to what it covers (Inguinal triangle)

Peritoneal recesses: Paracolic gutters · Paramesenteric gutters
Urogenital peritoneum
Uterus The uterus (from Latin "uterus" , plural uteruses or uteri) or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species. It is within the uterus that the fetus/ovaries The ovary is an ovum-producing reproductive organ, often found in pairs as part of the vertebrate female reproductive system. Ovaries in females are homologous to testes in males, in that they are both gonads and endocrine glands Broad ligament of the uterus The broad ligament of the uterus is the wide fold of peritoneum that connects the sides of the uterus to the walls and floor of the pelvis (Mesovarium The mesovarium is the portion of the broad ligament of the uterus that covers the ovaries, Mesosalpinx The mesosalpinx is part of the lining of the abdominal cavity in higher vertebrates, specifically the portion of the broad ligament that stretches from the uterine tube to the level of the ovary, Mesometrium The mesometrium is the mesentery of the uterus. It constitutes the majority of the broad ligament of the uterus, excluding only the portions adjacent to the uterine tube and ovary) · Ovarian ligament The ovarian ligament is a fibrous ligament that connects the ovary to the lateral surface of the uterus · Suspensory ligament of the ovary The suspensory ligament of the ovary, also infundibulopelvic ligament , is a fold of peritoneum that extends out from the ovary to the wall of the pelvis
Recesses

♂: Recto-vesical pouch · Pararectal fossa In the male, the peritoneum encircles the sigmoid colon, from which it is reflected to the posterior wall of the pelvis as a fold, the sigmoid mesocolon. It then leaves the sides and, finally, the front of the rectum, and is continued on to the upper ends of the seminal vesicles and the bladder; on either side of the rectum it forms a fossa, the

♀: Recto-uterine pouch · Recto-uterine fold (Uterosacral ligament The rectouterine folds contain a considerable amount of fibrous tissue and non-striped muscular fibers which are attached to the front of the sacrum and constitute the uterosacral ligaments) · Vesico-uterine pouch · Ovarian fossa · Paravesical fossa

Lateral umbilical fold
This anatomy Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy (zootomy) and plant anatomy (phytotomy). In some of its facets anatomy is closely related to embryology, comparative anatomy and comparative embryology, through common roots in article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Categories: Abdomen |

 

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'Peritoneal Cavity' Answers
what is the difference in the thoracic cavity in mammals and in reptiles?
Q. If in reptiles, the thoracic cavity contains the liver, stomach, and intestine. Then what does it contain in mammals if the stomach, liver, and intestine are housed in the peritoneal cavity?
Asked by kraft - Fri Nov 2 17:26:06 2007 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. There is no diaphragm in reptiles. Their cavities are all together without any separation.
Answered by ATP-Man - Fri Nov 2 18:11:28 2007

Yahoo Answers Search: Peritoneal cavity,
Thu Jul 29 01:14:04 2010
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