Card # 245

Which of the following organs is retroperitoneal?

Select all that apply.

1) stomach

2) kidneys

3) liver

4) gallbladder

5) inferior vena cava

6) spleen

Explanation

• kidneys
• inferior vena cava

Abdominal cavity: the major part of the abdominopelvic cavity, bounded by the thoracic
diaphragm and the pelvic inlet. The abdominal cavity includes both the peritoneal cavity and
theretroperitoneal space.

 Peritoneal cavity: that part of the abdomen surrounded by peritoneum. This is a potential
space between the parietal and visceral layers of peritoneum
 Retroperitoneal space: the area behind (posterior to) the peritoneum. Retroperitoneal
organs are located in this space
Abdominal contents:

 Peritoneum: a thin, serous membrane lining the walls of the abdominal and pelvic cavities
and clothing the abdominal and pelvic viscera. The peritoneum can be regarded as a
"balloon" into which organs are pressed into from the outside. The peritoneum
hasvisceral and parietal layers, just like the pleural cavity.
 Parietal peritoneum: lines the walls of the abdominal and pelvic cavities
 Visceral peritoneum: covers the organs

*** The potential space between the two layers, which is in effect the inside space of the balloon,
is called the peritoneal cavity.

The peritoneal cavity can be divided into two parts:

 Greater sac: is the main component of the peritoneal cavity and extends from the
diaphragm down to the pelvis
 Lesser sac: is smaller and lies behind the stomach

*** The two sacs are in free communication with one another through an oval window called
the opening of the lesser sac, or the epiploic foramen.

The terms intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal are used to describe the relationship of various
organs to the peritoneal covering. An organ is said to be intraperitoneal when it is almost totally
covered with visceral peritoneum. The following organs are considered to be intraperitoneal: the
stomach, jejunum, ileum, spleen, transverse colon, liver, and
gallbladder. Retroperitoneal organs are those that lie behind the peritoneum and are only
partially covered with visceral peritoneum. The following organs or structures are considered to
be retroperitoneal: the aorta, inferior vena cava, kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, ureters,
most of the duodenum, and the ascending and descending parts of the colon.

Note: Mesenteries are two-layered folds of peritoneum connecting parts of the intestines to the
posterior abdominal wall. These folds permit blood, lymph vessels, and nerves to reach the
viscera.
Card # 246

A 15-year-old patient comes into the emergency room with diffuse abdominal pain, loss of
appetite, and a fever. On palpation of the lower right abdomen he feels pain, and even greater
rebound pain when the pressure is released. The diagnosis is appendicitis. The appendix is
located in which abdominal region?

1) umbilical

2) epigastric

3) hypogastric

4) lumbar

5) hypochondriac

6) iliac
Explanation

• Iliac
Card # 247

In an elderly adult, the thymus is mostly atrophied, and the remains lie in the superior
mediastinum. In a pubescent boy, the thymus is at its largest, with anaverage mass of 35 grams.
When it is this size, the thymus will be present in which other division of the mediastinum?

1) anterior mediastinum

2) middle mediastinum

3) posterior mediastinum

Explanation

• anterior mediastinum

The thoracic cavity is surrounded by the ribs and chest muscles. It’s subdivided into the pleural
cavities, each of which contains a lung, and the mediastinum, which contains the heart, large
vessels of the heart, trachea, esophagus, thymus, lymph nodes, and other blood vessels and
nerves. The mediastinum is further divided into four areas.

Listed below are some of the major structures contained within the different regions. (It is not
within the scope of these cards to list all of the contents of the mediastina). Note: Some
structures overlap into different areas.

 Superior mediastinum: arch of the aorta, left and right subclavian arteries and veins, right
and left common carotid arteries, right and left internal jugular veins, right and left
brachiocephalic veins, brachiocephalic artery, upper half of the superior vena cava, right
and left primary bronchus, trachea, esophagus, thoracic duct, thymus, the phrenic nerves,
vagus nerves, cardiac plexus of nerves, and left recurrent laryngeal nerve.
 Inferior mediastinum: region directly below the superior mediastinum. This is subdivided
into three regions: anterior, middle, and posterior.

1. Anterior mediastinum: lymph nodes, branches of internal thoracic artery; in children,

contains the inferior part of the thymus gland.
2. Middle mediastinum: pericardium, heart and adjacent great vessels, the phrenic nerves,
and the main bronchi.
3. Posterior mediastinum: thoracic aorta, thoracic duct, esophagus, trachea, right and left
main bronchus, brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid artery, left subclavian artery,
arch of aorta, esophageal plexus (branches of vagus and splanchnic nerves), sympathetic
chain ganglia, azygos and hemiazygos veins, and many lymph nodes.
Card # 248

The diaphragm is located in the:

1) The diaphragm is located in the:

2) pelvic cavity

3) thoracic cavity

4) abdominal cavity

5) vertebral cavity

Explanation

• thoracic cavity

Body cavities are spaces within the body that contain the internal organs. The dorsal (posterior)
and ventral (anterior) cavities are the two major closed cavities.

 Dorsal cavity is subdivided into two cavities:

1. Cranial cavity (skull): encases the brain
2. Vertebral cavity (also called the spinal or vertebral canal): is formed by portions of
the bones (vertebrae) that form the spine. It encloses the spinal cord.

*** These two cavities communicate through the foramen magnum. These cavities are lined by
meninges. The fluid in these cavities is called cerebrospinal fluid.

 Ventral cavity: is subdivided into two cavities:

1. The thoracic cavity, is surrounded by the ribs and chest muscles. The thoracic cavity is
subdivided into:
  Pleural cavities (right and left): each of which contains a lung and
the mediastinum, which contains the heart, large vessels of the heart,
trachea, esophagus, thymus, lymph nodes, and other blood vessels and
nerves

Remember: The mediastinum is further divided into four areas: the middle, the anter-ior,
posterior, and superior areas.

 Pericardial cavity: between the visceral and parietal layers of the serous
pericardium, contains a thin film of fluid

2. Abdominopelvic cavity, which has two regions:

 Abdominal cavity: contains the stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, and

other internal organs
 Pelvic cavity: inferior to the abdominal cavity, contains bladder, some
reproductive structures (*** See below), and the rectum

*** In the male: the paired ductus deferens and seminal vesicle and the unpaired prostate. In the
female: the paired ovaries and the unpaired uterus.

*** The two cavities (thoracic and abdominopelvic) communicate through an opening in the
diaphragm called the hiatus.

The dorsal cavity, in the posterior region of the body, is divided into the cranial cavity and
the vertebral canal (vertebral cavity). The ventral cavity, in the anterior region, is divided
into the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.