Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University

Anatomy
2 Semester
nd

Human Anatomy “Prives”

Melissa Alvarez

Resume Peritoneum
The Peritoneum is a closed serous membrane that is in our body and lines the interior of the
abdominal cavity. It has two layers, the first one is the external layer that is called parietal
(peritoneum parietale) and the second one is the internal layer that is called Visceral
(peritoneum viscerale). The two layers are different, the parietal layer lines the abdominal
wall, while the visceral layer invests the viscera and create their serous covering for longer or
shorter distance. We have a space between both layers, this space has the name of peritoneal
cavity and contains a small amount of lubricating fluid (about 50ml) that allows both layers
to slide into each other. This sac communicates with external environment (only in females)
and is a very small abdominal opening of the uterine tubes.

We must know that the peritoneum has some important functions. Peritoneum serves as a
support for several of the existing organs in the abdominal cavity and make possible their
mobility, acts as a thermal insulator maintaining a constant temperature of the organs of the
abdomen, serves as a protection and defensive barrier against microorganisms and allows
blood vessels to reach the organs of the abdomen.

This serous membrane covers the anterior and posterior wall of the abdominal cavity, from
above it covers the lower portion of the diaphragm and from below it covers the pelvis. The
abdominal structure is classified in intraperitoneal tissue or extraperitoneal tissue (tela
subserosa), the latter may be subperitoneal (located below the peritoneum) such as the urinary
bladder and retroperitoneal (behind the peritoneum) such as the kidney. We have the
peritoneal cavity that is divided in two parts, these parts are principal cavity and transcavity
of the epiplons.
 Resume of the Intestines
We have two intestines in our body.These are the portion of the digestive tract between the
stomach and the anus. Its main function is to absorb nutrients and water that are ingested
during the feeding process. The first one is the small intestine and the second one is the large
intestine.

The small intestine (intestinum tenue), this intestine begins at the pylorus, makes series of
looped curves, and ends at the beginning of the large intestine. This intestine have different
size in the male and female cadavers, in male is about 7 m and in female about 6.5 m (It’s
always longer in cadavers than in live subjects due to postmortem relaxation of the muscles).

Small intestine has three parts: duodenum, jejunum and ileum. The duodenum runs around
the head of the pancreas like horseshoe, this part is located in the back and upper of the
abdomen, in the retroperitoneum, being the only portion of the small intestine that is fixed, is
formed entirely by smooth muscle and also the duodenum is C-shaped, forming four angles
of about 90 degrees. Jejunum has the function of realizing the absorption of the substances of
the alimentary chyme, in this section of a small intestine acts intestinal juice which degrades
carbohydrates, proteins and lipids to a minimum and finally it has villi that absorb nutrients
into the intestinal vein to go into the blood. Ileum is the final part of the small intestine, it has
these functions: secretion, absorption and motility (complete the processing of nutrients).

The large intestine (intestinum crassum) is extending from the end of the small intestine to
the anus and is divided in six parts: caecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending
colon, sigmoid (pelvic) colon and rectum. The length of the large intestine is about 1.0 to 1.5
m. In these intestine feces are formed by the absorption of water from the intestinal contents
that happens during digestion. Large intestine also hosts an extensive microflora that is
critical to our survival. The functions of the large intestine are absorption of electrolytes and
water, propulsion of intestinal contents, formation and temporary storage of feces and
defecation.