ASSIGNMENT NO.

12
ABDOMEN, PERITONEUM, ABDOMINAL PORTION OF ESOPHAGUS
STOMACH, DUODENUM, PANCREAS AND SPLEEN

At the end of the course the students must be able to:

A. Abdominal cavity divisions

1. Name the 2 main divisions of the abdominal cavity
2. Discuss the boundaries of each
3. Enumerate the main visceral abdominal organs located in each
B. Peritoneum
1. Discuss the peritoneum as to:
(a) divisions
(b) functions
(c) parts
2. Discuss the peritoneal cavity as to:
(a) divisions and boundaries
(b) communication between its divisions
(c) content and functions
(d) difference between male and female peritoneal cavities
3. Differentiate between peritoneal, retroperitoneal and
extraperitoneal organs.
4. Discuss the umbilical ligaments and folds found in the posterior
surface of the antero-lateral abdominal walls covered by
peritoneum.
5. Identify and discuss the reduplication of the visceral peritoneum
in the following:
(a) mesentery
(b) ligament
(c) omentum
C. Abdominal portion of the esophagus
1. Discuss the abdominal esophagus as to following:
(a) entrance into the abdominal cavity from the thoracic
region
(b) length
(c) anatomical relations
(d) blood supply and venous drainage
(e) nerve supply and lymphatic drainage
D. Stomach
1. Discuss the stomach as to:
(a) function
(b) location in the abdominal cavity
(c) size and shape
(d) communications
(e) borders and features
(f) main parts and subparts
 (g) anatomical relations
(h) peritoneal reflections
(i) blood supply and venous drainage
(j) nerve supply and lymphatics
2. Give an explanation for the epigastric in affection of stomach.
3. Illustrate and label the features and parts of the stomach on its
anterior surface
E. Duodenum
1. Discuss the duodenum as to:
(a) function
(b) its features compares with the rest of the small
intestines
(c) parts and features
(d) peritoneal reflections
(e) clinical correlation
F. Pancreas
1. Discuss the pancreas according to the following:
(a) function
(b) type of secretions and function
(c) shape and location
(d) parts
(e) anatomical relations
(f) peritoneal reflections
(g)blood supply and venous drainage
(h)lymphatic and nerve supply
(i) clinical correlation
2. Illustrate and label the parts and important gross features of the
pancreas.
G. Spleen
1. Discuss the spleen according to the following
() definition and function
() location
() anatomical relations
() borders
() surfaces and relations
() blood supply and venous drainage
() lymphatic drainage and nerve supply
() clinical correlation

2. Illustrate and label the parts and important gross features of the
spleen.
 ASSIGNMENT NO. 12
ABDOMEN, PERITONEUM, ABDOMINAL PORTION OF ESOPHAGUS,
STOMACH. DUODENUM, PACREAS AND SPLEEN
LABORATORY PROCEDURE

Borrow from the technician a human torso anatomical model with abdominal
visceral organs present. Identify the gross features of the following organs together with
their anatomical relations.

(a) stomach
(b) duodenum
(c) pancreas
(d) spleen

After studying the models you are now ready to dissect the cadavers.

Open up the abdomen of cutting through the anterior abdominal wall. To be done
on both sides (one for each section).

1. superiorly make a horizontal incision along the subcostal line extending

laterally to mid-axillary line.
2. Then, from incision #1, make a vertical incision downward to the iliac
crest

Pull down the incised anterior abdominal wall.

Examine the internal surface of the anterior abdominal wall

(a) ligamentum teres hepatis above the umbilicus; This fibrous cord was derived
from what embryological structures? What is the significance of the latter?
- Ligamentum teres is a remnant of the fetal umbilical vein; round
ligament inserts around the umbilicus and is an important
landmark of the inner surface of the anterior abdominal wall.

(b) median umbilical fold, which courses along the midline from the apex of the
urinary bladder inferiorly to the umbilicus superiorly. The ligament
underneath this fold represents what fetal structure?
- Ligament underneath the median umbilical fold represents fetal
allantois (urachus)

Identify the following:

Medial umbilical folds - a pair of peritoneal folds covering the obliterated umbilical
arteries. These arteries form what umbilical ligaments? LATERAL UMBILICAL
LIGAMENT
Lateral umbilical folds - a pair of peritoneal elevations covering by the inferior epigastric
vessels. In the illustration below, label the internal surface of the antero-lateral
abdominal wall showing these peritoneal folds.

With the abdominal wall opened up, examine the exposed abdominal organs. Identify
them. Look for the stomach from its greater curvature an apron-like structure anterior to
most abdominal organs. What is this structure? GREATER OMENTUM

This structure is made up of how many layers of peritoneum? 4 LAYERS

Identify the parts of the greater omentum? Name the contents of each.

A. Gastrocolic ligament- attached to transverse colon; usually referred to as the

greater omentum
B. Gastrosplenic ligament (gastrolienal)- attached to the hilus of spleen
Examine again the stomach by pulling the liver upward. Identify the other parts, the
lesser curvature; the fundus, body and pyloric region; cardiac and angular notches.

In the photograph below, label all parts of the anterior surface of the stomach.

Push the stomach downward in order to seen the structure attached along its lesser
curvature. This is the lesser omentum.
How many layers of peritoneum is it made up of? What are the structures found within
the omentum?
• 2-layered peritoneal fold connecting the inferior surface of the liver to
esophagus, lesser curvature of the stomach and the 1st part of duodenum.

Behind the right border of the lesser omentum is an opening, the epiploic foramen.
Insert a finger into this opening and it will be leading towards the lesser sac.
Incise the lesser omentum taking care not to cut the enclosed structures such as the:
− common bile duct to the extreme right, to its left and on the same plane is the
hepatic artery, and behind the 2 is the portal vein.

Pull the stomach downward, and expose the celiac trunk. Clean the surrounding area and
identify the branches.
Name the branches of the celiac trunk.
• Left Gastric Artery
• Common Hepatic Artery
• Splenic Artery
Follow the course of these branches to the areas supplied.
A short distance below the celiac trunk is the origin of the superior mesenteric artery.
Isolate this artery.
Lift the stomach upward. Examine the structure that forming its bed.
Enumerate the structures that form the stomach bed.
• Pancreas
• Spleen
• Left Kidney
• Left Suprarenal Gland
• Transverse Colon and its Mesocolon
• Diaphragm

Grasp the terminal portion of the pyloric region of the stomach. It is hard. This part is the
pylorus. Open up the stomach longitudinally, down to the pylorus.
Take note of the thick mucosal folds. These are the so-called rugae.
The slight dilatation of the pyloric region is the antrum, while the opening at the level of
the pylorus is the pyloric orifice, the communication between stomach and the
duodenum.

Examine the 1st part of the duodenum distal to the pylorus. The 1st half is movable. It is
surrounded by the peritoneum continuous with lesser and greater omenta. This 1st half is
the so-called duodenal bulb or duodenal cap.

The rest of the duodenum is retroperitoneal. Incise the peritoneal covering to expose the
rest of the parts of the duodenum. Follow the duodenum to its junction with the jejunum.

Identify the superior mesenteric vessels crossing the 3rd portion of the duodenum.

Expose the pancreas by removing its peritoneal covering. Identify its parts such as the
head, neck, body and tail.
Trace the course of the body and tail to the left.
Name the organs related to these parts of the pancreas. Illustrate and label.

Locate the blood vessels that run along the superior order of the pancreas. These are the
splenic vessels. Follow the course of the splenic artery to the hilus of the spleen.
Name the branches of the splenic artery.
• Short Gastric Artery
• Left Gastroepiploic Artery
• Posterior Gastric
• Branches to the Pancreas

Trace the splenic vein to the back of the neck of the pancreas where it joins the superior
mesenteric vein. What blood vessel is formed by this union?
• Portal Vein

Expose the structure posterior to the head of the pancreas – the common bile duct usually
joined by the main pancreatic duct perforating the medial border of the 2 nd part of the
duodenum.
In the photographs below, label anterior and posterior views of the duodenum with the
pancreas showing the important related structures.
Identify the spleen to the left side of the fundus of the stomach. The border facing
forward is the anterior border. This border is notched.

Study the supero-posterior relations of the spleen. Identify this structure.

Examine the ligaments attached to the spleen.
• Connected to the Greater Curvature and to the left kidney
• Gastrolienal Ligament (Greater Curvature)
• Lienorenal Ligament (Left Kidney)

What ligament is attached to the following?

To the left kidney?
• Splenorenal Ligament or Lienorenal Ligament

To the stomach?
• Gastrolienal Ligament or Gastrosplenic Ligament

Identify the relations of the spleen: postero-laterally?

Medially?
• Left Kidney

Inferiorly?
• Splenic (Colic) Flexure