Introduction
The abdomen is the body region located between the chest and pelvis. It contains various organs that play a vital role in digestion, excretion, and other bodily functions. The anatomy of the abdomen is complex, and a thorough understanding of it is essential for medical professionals to diagnose and treat abdominal-related diseases and conditions.
The abdomen is divided into several regions based on the underlying organs and structures. The most commonly used method of dividing the abdomen is into four quadrants: the right upper quadrant (RUQ), the left upper quadrant (LUQ), the right lower quadrant (RLQ), and the left lower quadrant (LLQ). The abdominal cavity is divided into two main compartments: the peritoneal and retroperitoneal.
Peritoneal Cavity:
The peritoneal cavity is the space between the visceral peritoneum, which is the membrane that covers the abdominal organs, and the parietal peritoneum, which is the membrane that lines the abdominal wall. It is divided into two parts: the greater and lesser sacs.
The greater sac is the larger part of the peritoneal cavity and extends from the diaphragm to the pelvis. It contains most of the abdominal organs, including the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, small intestine, and most of the large intestine.
The lesser sac is located behind the stomach, also known as the omental bursa. It is a smaller, horseshoe-shaped cavity that is not directly connected to the greater sac. It communicates with the greater sac through an opening called the omental foramen, which is located behind the stomach.
Retroperitoneal Cavity:
The retroperitoneal cavity is located behind the peritoneum and contains organs such as the kidneys, adrenal glands, and pancreas. Unlike the peritoneal cavity, the retroperitoneal cavity is not covered by the peritoneum on all sides. The anterior part of the retroperitoneal cavity is covered by a thin layer of the peritoneum, which forms the posterior wall of the peritoneal cavity.
Abdominal Organs:
The abdominal organs can be classified into several categories based on their functions:
- Stomach
- Liver
- Gallbladder
- Pancreas
- Spleen
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
- Appendix
- Kidneys
- Adrenal glands
- Bladder
- Uterus (in females)
- Ovaries (in females)
- Fallopian tubes (in females)
- Prostate (in males)
- Testes (in males)