Fiche de Revision: Digestion and Defence 1.5
Case 1: Mouth to Esophagus
I. Basics: Abdominal Cavity, Alimentary Canal, Enteric Nervous System
1. Abdominal Cavity
abdominal cavity: area delineated by parietal and visceral peritoneum (mesothelial simple squamous cells)
peritoneal cavity: serous fluid secreted by the 2 peritoneums
mesenteries: fusion of two peritoneums, bind to the organs, most are dorsal, some are connected from one
organ to another (act as ligaments)
functions: attaches the organs to the body wall; route for blood vessels, lymphatics; fat storage
examples: mesentery (small intestine), mesocolon transverse, sigmoiid mesocolon,
retroperitoneal vs intraperitoneal: organs lose their mesenteries during development
retroperitoneal: aorta, pancreas, duodenum, ascending colon, descending colon, rectum
primary: urinary system (including kidneys), esophagus, rectum
omentum and omental cavities:
prevents friction, acts as sliding plane for the stomach; connected to abdominal cavity via
Winslow/omental foramen
Case 1: Mouth to Esophagus
I. Basics: Abdominal Cavity, Alimentary Canal, Enteric Nervous System
1. Abdominal Cavity
abdominal cavity: area delineated by parietal and visceral peritoneum (mesothelial simple squamous cells)
peritoneal cavity: serous fluid secreted by the 2 peritoneums
mesenteries: fusion of two peritoneums, bind to the organs, most are dorsal, some are connected from one
organ to another (act as ligaments)
functions: attaches the organs to the body wall; route for blood vessels, lymphatics; fat storage
examples: mesentery (small intestine), mesocolon transverse, sigmoiid mesocolon,
retroperitoneal vs intraperitoneal: organs lose their mesenteries during development
retroperitoneal: aorta, pancreas, duodenum, ascending colon, descending colon, rectum
primary: urinary system (including kidneys), esophagus, rectum
omentum and omental cavities:
prevents friction, acts as sliding plane for the stomach; connected to abdominal cavity via
Winslow/omental foramen
