The Abdomen

Surface Anatomy, Vessels, Muscles, and Peritoneum

Surface Anatomy• Anterior abdominal wall

extends from costal margin to inferior boundaries:– Iliac crest– Anterior superior iliac

spine– Inguinal ligament– Pubic crest

• Superior boundary– Diaphragm

• Central landmark– Umbilicus

• Linea alba (white line)– Tendinous line– Extends from xiphoid

process to pubic symphysis

Abdominal Quadrants

• 9 regions • 4 quadrants

– Draw “line” through navel

– Right upper quadrant

– Left upper quadrant

– Left lower quadrant– Right lower

quadrant

Muscles• Function:

– Help contain abdominal organs

– Move trunk– Forced breathing– Increase intra-abdominal

pressure• Abdominal wall

– Anterior (4)• Innervated by intercostal

nerves• Continuous with layers of

intercostal muscles• Fibers of layers run in

different directions for strength

• Ends in aponeurosis which contains rectus abdominis muscle

– Posterior (3)

Anterior Abdominal Wall Muscles

Rectus Abdominis – Origin

• Pubic crest, symphysis– Insertion

• Xiphoid process, costal cartilages of ribs 5-7

– Function • Flex, rotate trunk, fix and depress

ribs, stabilize pelvis, compress abdomen

• Internal oblique – Origin

• Lumbar fascia, iliac crest, inguinal ligament

– Insertion • Linea alba, pubic crest, last 3-4

ribs, costal margin– Function

• Same for external obliques

Anterior Abdominal Wall

• External oblique– Origin

• Lower 8 ribs– Insertion

• Aponeurosis to linea alba, pubic and iliac crest

– Function • Flex trunk, compress abdominal

wall (together), Rotate trunk (separate sides)

• Transversus abdominis– Origin

• Inguinal ligament, lumbar fascia, cartilage of last 6 ribs, iliac crest

– Insertion• Linea alba, pubic crest

– Function• Compress abdominal contents

Posterior Abdominal Wall• Iliopsoas

– Psoas major• Origin

– Lumbar vertebrae, T12

• Insertion– Lesser trochanter of femur via iliopsoas

tendon• Function

– Thigh flexion, trunk flexion, lateral flexion• Innervation

– Ventral rami L1-L3

– Iliacus• Origin

– Iliac fossa, ala of sacrum• Insertion

– Lesser trochanter of femur via iliopsoas tendon

• Function– Thigh flexion, trunk flexion

• Innervation– Femoral nerve (L2 and L3)

– Psoas minor – variable (40-60% do not have)

Posterior Abdominal Wall

• Quadratus lumborum– Origin

• Iliac crest and lumbar fascia

– Insertion• Transverse process of

upper lumbar vertebrae, lower margin of rib 12

– Function• Flex vertebral column,

maintains upright posture, assists in inspiration

– Innervation:• T12 and upper lumbar

spinal nerves (ventral rami)

Abdominopelvic Cavity

• Ventral body cavity– Thoracic– Abdominopelvic

• Abdominopelvic– Abdominal

• Liver• Stomach• Kidneys

– Pelvic cavity• Bladder• Some reproductive

organs• Rectum

Abdominal cavity

The space bounded by:

• Anterolateral abdominal wall

• Posterior abdominal wall

• Diaphragm

• Pelvic walls and pelvic floor.

Subdivided into:

• True abdominal cavity (from diaphragm to linea terminalis)

• Pelvic cavity (below linea terminalis).

Peritoneum and peritoneal compartment

Peritoneum is a continuous serous membrane, composed of two layers:

• Parietal peritoneum, lines abdominal and pelvic wall

• Visceral peritoneum, lines abdominal and pelvic

organs.

Peritoneal compartment is part of the abdominal cavity enclosed within the parietal peritoneum. Contains organs covered with peritoneum and peritoneal structures.

Outside the parietal peritoneum is the extraperitoneal compartment of the abdominal cavity.

Peritoneal cavity

Peritoneal cavity (PC) - the space between the two peritoneal layers, is a potential space, into which the organs are tightly packed against each other.

•PC contains thin layer of fluid, which lubricates the peritoneal surfaces and allows movement of the organs without friction.

•PC is closed in males, but communicates with the external environment in females through the uterine tubes, uterus and vagina.

•Peritoneum, peritoneal cavity and all the organs are situated in the abdominal cavity.

Development of the peritoneum

Relationship between the organs and peritoneum

Due to intraembryonal processes the organs have different relationship with the peritoneum.

1. Intraperitoneal organs are entirely covered with peritoneum. They are connected to the abdominal wall with ligaments or meso, which ensures greater mobility.

2. Extraperitoneal organs are partially or entirely devoid of peritoneum. They are slightly movable or immovable. According to their position these are:

а) retroperitoneal – on the posterior abdominal wall

b) subperitoneal – in the lesser pelvis

c) preperitoneal – at the anterior abdominal wall.

Vertical layout of the peritoneum

Horizontal layout of the peritoneum

Passage of the parietal into visceral peritoneum

Peritoneal structures

1. Mesentery – double peritoneal layer, representing

elongation of the visceral peritoneum.

•М. connects the corresponding organ with the

abdominal wall (e.g., mesentery of the small

intestine).

•М. contains connective tissue in which are

embedded blood vessels, nerves and lymph nodes.

•М. ensures mobility of the organs.

2. Omentum – double layered structure

of visceral peritoneal, extending from

the stomach to neighbouring organs.

• Lesser omentum (оmentum minus)

connects the lesser curvature of the

stomach and intitial portion of pars

superior duodeni with liver.

• Greater omentum (оmentum majus)

descends from the greater curvature of

the stomach and intitial portion of pars

superior duodeni, covers the intestines,

and then ascends back to attache to the

transverse colon. Contains great amount

of fat tissue.

3. Peritoneal ligaments – double layered

structures of visceral peritoneum, between

neighbouring organs or between organ and

abdominal wall (e.g., lig. falciforme, lig.

gastrophrenicum, lig. gastrolienale, lig.

gastrocolicum).

4. Peritoneal folds (plicae) formed over

underlying structures (e.g., plica iliocecalis

superior, plica umbilicalis mediana).

5. Peritoneal recessuses – spaces in the peritoneal

cavity заградени between peritoneal structures

and abdominal organs or abdominal wall (e.g.,

bursa omentalis, recessus subphrenicus, fossa

retrocecalis).

Divisions of the peritoneal cavity

By mesocolon transversum the peritoneal compartment divites into:

1. Supracolic compartment – between diaphragm and mesocolon transversum with its mesentery.

2. Infracolic compartment - between mesocolon transversum and linea terminalis.

3. Pelvic compartment - below linea terminalis in the pelvi cavity.

Supracolic compartment

Organs:

1. Esophagus, pars abdominalis -

intraperitoneal

2. Stomach - intraperitoneal

3. Liver - intraperitoneal

4. Gall bladder - intraperitoneal

5. Spleen - intraperitoneal

Supracolic compartment. Projections of organs

Supracolic compartment

Peritoneal structures: 1. Lig. falciforme hepatis

– lig. teres hepatis

2. Lig. coronarium hepatis (dextum et sinistrum)

– area nuda

3. Lig. triangulare (dextum et sinistrum)

Supracolic compartment

4. Omentum minus

– lig. hepatogastricum– lig. hepatoduodenale

5. Omentum majus– lig. gastrocolicum– lig. gastrolienale– lig. gastrophrenicum

6. Lig. phrenicolienale

Supracolic compartment

Peritoneal spaces:

1. Recessus subphrenicus dexter - bursa hepatica

2. Recessus subphrenicus sinister - bursa pregastrica

3. Perilienal space

4. Recessus subhepaticusа) anterior part

b) posterior part - recessus hepatorenalis

5. Bursa omentalis

Supracolic compartment

Bursa omentalis. Opened thru lig. gastrocolicum

Bursa omentalis. Opened thru lig. hepatogastricum

Infracolic compartment

Organs:

1. Small intestine– duodenum (pars superior, descendens, horizontalis,

ascendens) - retroperitoneal, pars superior intraperitoneal

– Jejunum and ileum - intraperitoneal

2. Large intestine– cecum - intraperitoneal

– appendix vermiformis - intraperitoneal

– colon (ascendens, transversum, descendens, sigmoideum) - intraperitoneal /mesoperitoneal

– rectum – most extraperitoneal

Organs and projections

Peritoneal structures

1. Omentum majus - pars libera

2. Mesenterium

3. Mesocolon transversum

4. Mesocolon sigmoideum

5. Mesoappendix

Peritoneal structures

1. Plicae duodenalis superior/inferior

- recessus duodenalis superior/inferior

2. Plicae ileocecalis superior/inferior

- recessus ileocecalis superior/inferior

Peritoneal spaces

1. Canalis lateralis dexter

2. Sinus mesentericus dexter

3. Sinus mesentericus sinister

4. Canalis lateralis sinister

5. Recessus intersigmoideus

6. Recessus retrocecalis

Appendix vermiformis

Supracolic compartment. Blood supply

Truncus celiacus

1. A. gastrica sisnistra- r. esophageus

2. A. hepatica communis- a. hepatica propria

- a. hepatica dextra/sinistra- a. gastroduodenalis

- a. gastroepiploica dextra- aa. pancreaticoduodenales

superiores (anterior/posterior)

- a. gastrica dextra

3. A. lienalis- aa. gastricae breves- a. gastroepiploica sinistra

Supracolic compartment. Blood supply

Arteriogram of truncus celiacus

Infracolic compartment. Blood

supply

A. mesenterica superior

1. A. pancreaticoduodenalis inferior

2. Aa. intestinales (15-18)

3. A. iliocolica

4. A. colica dextra

5. A. colica media

Infracolic compartment. Blood

supply

A. mesenterica inferior

1. A. colica sinistra

2. Aa. sigmoideae (3-4)

3. A. rectalis superior