Peritoneum and Peritoneal Cavity

Embryology
 Developing endoderm initially opens to yolk sac  craniocaudal & lateral folding bring endoderm inside
(foregut & hindgut)
 Midgut remains attached to yolk sac via vitelline duct
 Stomach suspended in a mesentery attached to BOTH dorsal and ventral body walls – ventral & dorsal
mesentery
o Ventral mesogastrium  lesser omentum
o Dorsal mesogastrium  greater omentum
 Mesentery proper – from dorsal mesentery below level of stomach

Peritoneum
 A serous membrane that lines the abdominopelvic cavity and invests the abdominal viscera
 Consists of the:
o Parietal peritoneum – lining the internal surface of abdominopelvic wall; provides support for
organs
 Vascular supply from corresponding wall
 Innervated by somatic nerves
o Visceral peritoneum – investing the surface of internal viscera
 Vascular supply from vasculature of the covered organ
 Innervated by visceral nerves; insensitive to pain
o Peritoneal cavity – a potential space between the two layers

Peritoneal Relations of Organs

 Intraperitoneal: have complete visceral peritoneum covering
o “SALTD SPRSS”: Stomach, Appendix, Liver, Transverse colon, Duodenum (1 st part), Small
intestine (jejunum & ileum), Pancreas (tail), Rectum (upper 1/3 rd), Spleen, Sigmoid colon
 1 Retroperitoneal: develop and remain beneath parietal peritoneum
o Suprarenal glands, Aorta/IVC, Ureters, Kidneys, Esophagus, Rectum (lower 2/3 rd)
 2 Retroperitoneal: originally developed within peritoneum but later pushed against body wall during
development; peritoneum only covers anterior surface
o Duodenum (2nd-4th part), Pancreas (head, neck, body), Colon (ascending & descending)
 Subperitoneal: parietal peritoneum only on its superior surface
o Urinary bladder

Peritoneal Formations
 Mesentery: double layer of peritoneum that constitutes continuity of visceral & parietal peritoneum
o Mesentery proper (small intestine)
o Transverse mesocolon
o