Anatomy Quiz: Abdominopelvic Cavity

Abdominal Cavity Organs

• The abdominal cavity is bordered by the abdominal walls, diaphragm, and pelvis.
• It forms the major part of the abdominopelvic cavity, which is continuous with the pelvic cavity.
• The abdominal cavity houses most of the digestive organs, spleen, kidneys, and ureters.

Outline

• The outline of the abdominal cavity presentation covers the organs of the abdominal cavity, blood supply, and innervation.

Organs of Abdominal Cavity

• The abdominal cavity is a large space that contains major digestive organs.
• The digestive tract, as well as spleen, kidneys, ureters and several other organs are included in the abdominal cavity.

Blood Supply

• The blood supply to the abdominal cavity involves major blood vessels arising from the abdominal aorta.
• There are 3 large blood vessel trunks that provide blood to the organs of the abdominal cavity
• The celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery are the 3 major blood supply trunks

Innervation

• The visceral organs of the abdomen receive innervation from both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves.
• The sympathetic system is responsible for inhibiting peristalsis, constricting blood vessels, and other actions.
• The parasympathetic system promotes peristalsis and secretion of digestive juices.

Liver

• The liver is divided into 4 anatomical lobes (right, left, quadrate, and caudate).
• The functions of the liver include detoxification, glycogen storage, production of hormones, synthesis of plasma proteins, and production of bile.
• The liver is supplied blood through the Hepatic portal vein.

Gallbladder

• The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile, which emulsifies fat during digestion.
• It has multiple parts including a fundus, body, and neck.

Duct System

• The common bile duct joins with the main pancreatic duct forms hepatopancreatic ampulla (ampulla of Vater)
• The ampulla opens into the 2nd part of the duodenum at major duodenal papilla.

Portal Triad

• The portal triad contains three essential structures: the hepatic portal vein, hepatic artery, and common bile duct.
• These structures are important to the liver.

Stomach

• The stomach stores food and chemically & mechanically prepares food for digestion and passage into the duodenum.
• The stomach is divided into four major regions: cardia, fundus, body, and pylorus.

Stomach: Ligaments

• The greater omentum, gastrosplenic ligament, gastrophrenic ligament, and gastrocolic ligament are important structures that connect the stomach to other abdominal organs.

Small Intestine

• The small intestine is the primary site for nutrient absorption.
• It consists of three distinct parts: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
• Duodenum is the first part of the small intestine, and it's a short, C-shaped structure.
• Jejunum is the middle section of the small intestine, responsible for absorption.
• Ileum is the final part of the small intestine, and it's longest part as well

Small Intestine: Duodenum

• The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine.
• The duodenum is divided into four segments: superior (first), descending (second), inferior (third), and ascending (fourth).

Small Intestine: Jejunum & lleum

• The jejunum is located in the left upper quadrant.
• The ileum is located mostly in the right lower quadrant.
• In terms of structure, the jejunum has more prominent plicae circulares and larger diameter than the ileum.
• In addition, vasa recta loops in the jejunum are longer.

Small Intestine: Mesentery

• The mesentery proper is a fan-shaped fold of peritoneum that attaches the jejunum and ileum to the posterior abdominal wall.

Pancreas

• The pancreas is an accessory digestive gland located posterior to the stomach.
• It has four main regions: head, uncinate process, neck, and body.
• The tail of the pancreas is located near the hilum of the spleen and left colic flexure.
• Ducts from the pancreas and common bile duct unite to form a larger hepatopancreatic duct which opens into the duodenum.

Large Intestine

• The large intestine absorbs water and electrolytes, and produces and absorbs vitamins.
• The large intestine has definite characteristics that distinguish it from other parts of the digestive tract.
• The large intestine is divided into cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum.

Kidneys

• The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs located on the posterior abdominal wall.
• They are associated with multilayered capsules including fibrous capsule, perinephric fat, renal fascia, and paranephric fat.
• Each kidney is comprised of a cortex and medulla.
• Parts of the kidney include renal pyramid, renal papilla, renal column, renal sinus, minor calyx, major calyx, renal pelvis, and ureter.

Foregut, Midgut, Hindgut

• The foregut, midgut, and hindgut are the three parts of the gut tube that the digestive organs are subdivided into.
• The foregut includes the esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and upper duodenum.
• The midgut includes the rest of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, appendix, and proximal two-thirds of the transverse colon.
• The hindgut includes the distal one-third of the transverse, descending, sigmoid colon, rectum, and upper anal canal.

Celiac Trunk

• The celiac trunk is a major arterial branch that supplies blood vessels to the foregut.
• Three main arteries arise from the celiac trunk – the left gastric artery, the splenic artery, and the common hepatic artery.

Superior Mesenteric Artery

• The superior mesenteric artery supplies the midgut part of the gastrointestinal tract.
• It's a branch that arises from the abdominal aorta, at the level of L1.
• Four smaller arteries branch from the superior mesenteric artery: ileocolic, right colic, middle colic, and intestinal arteries.

Inferior Mesenteric Artery

• The inferior mesenteric artery supplies the hindgut part of the gastrointestinal tract.