Peritoneum

The peritoneum (from Greek peritonaion " Fully -loaded, the " ) or peritoneum lines the serous membrane of the abdominal cavity. It surrounds most internal organs below the diaphragm to the entrance of the small pelvis. It is characterized by a single layer, flat epithelium.

Construction

The lining of the inside of the abdominal wall is called the parietal peritoneum ( parietal peritoneum ), the coating of the organs visceral peritoneum ( visceral peritoneum ), with only the parietal peritoneum is sensitive innervated, ie is sensitive to pain.

The total area of the peritoneum in humans is about 1.6-2.0 m. There are five longitudinal folds ( plicae Latin ) On the front wall of the abdomen below the navel. The three media are rudiments of embryonic development. The unpaired, posing innermost contains the median umbilical ligament obliterated urachus, next run prenatally the two Aa. umbilical, which degenerate after birth to the umbilical ligaments medialia. The lateral folds of peritoneum contain (also postnatal) the arteries and veins inferior epigastric. In surgery, these folds serve as important anatomical landmarks.

The visceral peritoneum surrounds the liver, gallbladder, spleen, stomach, the greatest part of both the thin (intestine tenue ) and colon (intestine crassum ).

The urinary bladder (vesica urinaria ) and in the woman's uterus (womb), fallopian tubes (fallopian " tube" ) and the ovaries ( ovaries ) are located in the so-called Subperitonealraum. " Buck " These organs from below into the parietal peritoneum, a, which is referred to herein as the visceral peritoneum (respectively perimetrium in the case of uterine Pars ). By the ingrowth of female genital organs in the peritoneum form as Bauchfellduplikaturen their mesentery.

Function

The peritoneum secretes absorbed and peritoneal fluid, a secretion, which reduces as a " lubricant ", the friction (viscosity) at its surface and thus facilitates movement of the bodies relative to one another ( for example in the stomach filling, or pregnancy). The amount of fluid is usually low with 50 ml; every major collection is pathological ( diseased ) and is called ascites. A deficient production of peritoneal fluid may result in movement of the organs because of increased friction in pain or even to adhesions of the peritoneum. An inflammation of the peritoneum ( peritonitis ) is a life -threatening complication of injury to the abdominal wall or bowel, cancer and the " ruptured appendix " as a result of " appendicitis " (inflammation of the appendicitis appendix ( appendicitis) ).

Diseases

The most common of Peritoneiums diseases are:

• Effusions of serous ascites, hemorrhagic ascites, chylous ascites, jelly belly
• Peritonitis: abacterial, bacterial
• Hernias
• Tumors: mesothelioma, peritoneal