1. The peritoneum & its reflections
J.C. BYIRINGIRO
MD, MCS (ECSA), MMED

2. Peritoneum 2 KINDS ELABORATES EXUDATE WALL OFF INFECTION & LOCALIZE IT
Parietal (P)
Visceral (V)
ELABORATES EXUDATE
Leucocytes
Ease movements of viscera
WALL OFF INFECTION & LOCALIZE IT
STORE FAT
SENSITIVE
Visceral - Stretch
Parietal - Pain, T0, touch & pressure

3. Peritoneum

4. Peritoneum & viscera during development
STOMACH
Rapid enlargement
Displacement & its rotation by liver to Left
DUODENUM
Rotates Right
Mesentery merges with dorsal mesentery

5. Peritoneum & viscera

6. Formation of retroperitoneal gut

7. Development of mesenteries & peritoneal sacs in Transv.Sect.

8. Development of mesenteries & peritoneal sacs in Longit. Section

9. Peritoneal formations
The peritoneal cavity houses a great length of gut, most of which is covered with peritoneum.
Extensive continuities are required between the parietal and visceral peritoneum to convey the necessary neurovascular structures from the body wall to the viscera.
The parietal and visceral peritoneum lining the peritoneal cavity have a much greater surface area than the skin; therefore, the peritoneum must be highly convoluted.

10. Definitions - ligs, omenta & mes
PERITONEAL LIGAMENTSS
= 2 folds of peritoneum connecting viscera to abdominal wall
OMENTUM
= 2 folds of peritoneum connecting stomach to another viscus e.g. greater & lesser omenta
MESENTERY
= 2 folds of peritoneum connecting intestines to post abdominal wall in adults. For children it is post and anterior

14. Subdivisions of the Peritoneal Cavity
Greater and lesser peritoneal sacs
The transverse mesocolon (mesentery of the transverse colon) divides the abdominal cavity into:
Supracolic compartment, containing the stomach, liver, and spleen, and an
Infracolic compartment, containing the small intestine and ascending and descending colon.

17. Subdivisions of the Peritoneal Cavity Ctn’d.
The infracolic compartment is divided into right and left infracolic spaces by the mesentery of the small intestine.
Free communication occurs between the supracolic and the infracolic compartments through the paracolic gutters.