HUMANS HAVE FOUR BODY CAVITIES:

(1)The dorsal body cavity that

encloses the brain and spinal
cord;
(2) The Thoracic cavity that
encloses the heart and lungs;
(3) The Abdominal cavity that
encloses most of the digestive
organs and kidneys; and
(4) The Pelvic cavity that
encloses the bladder and
reproductive organs.
Nomenclature
Mesentery
– Double layer fold of
peritoneum
connecting the Gut
with the posterior
body wall
Omentum
– Double layer fold of
peritoneum
connecting the
Stomach with the body
wall (Ventral /Lesser &
Dorsal / Greater)
Nomenclature
Parietal Peritoneum
– Parietal peritoneum is
that portion that lines the
abdominal and pelvic
cavities.
Visceral peritoneum
– Visceral peritoneum
covers the external
surfaces of most
abdominal organs,
including the intestinal
tract.
Nomenclature

– Peritoneal
ligaments are folds
of peritoneum that
are used to connect
viscera to viscera or
the abdominal wall.

These are usually named in accordance with where they

are situated, e.g. Gastrocolic ligament, connects the
stomach and the colon. Gastrosplenic Ligament Spleen with
Stomach.
Nomenclature
Peritoneal pouch
–It is an extension
of peritoneum bet
ween the body wall
and an organ or b/t
two organs;
e.g.Morrison’s
pouch & Pouch of
Douglas.
Falciform Ligament
• The falciform
ligament is a peritoneal
connection, between
liver and anterior
(ventral) body wall.
• It divides the ant
surface of the liver into
the left medial lobe and
right lateral lobe.
Ligamentum Teres
The round ligament of the liver
(or ligamentum teres,
or ligamentum teres hepatis) is
a degenerative string of tissue
that exists in the free edge of
the falciform ligament of the
liver. The
roundligament divides the left
part of the liver into medial
and lateral sections.
Coronary Ligaments
of Liver
• The coronary ligament of
the liver refers to parts of
the peritoneal reflections
that hold the liver to the
inferior surface of the
diaphragm & makes the
boundaries of Bare Area of
Liver.
These are two
Superior or Anterior B/T Liver & Diaphragm also
called Hepatico-Pherenic Ligament
Inferior or Posterior B/T Liver & Rt.Kidney also
called Hepatico-Renal Ligament
Lesser Omentum
The lesser
omentum (small omentu
m or
gastrohepatic omentum)
is the double layer of
peritoneum that extends
from the liver to the lesser
curvature of the stomach
(hepatogastric ligament)
and the first part of the
duodenum
(hepatoduodenal
ligament).
Greater Omentum
The greater
omentum (also
the great omentum,
omentum majus,
gastrocolic omentum,
epiploon, is a large
apron-like fold of
visceral peritoneum that
hangs down from the
stomach
Supra colic & infracolic compartment
The mesentery of the
transverse colon divides the
cavity into
Supracolic compartment –
lies above the transverse
mesocolon (and contains
the stomach, liver and
spleen) &
Infrracolic compartment
b(containing Small
intestine).
PERITONEAL REFLECTIONS OF MALE

SUPRAVESICAL FOSSA
Reflects on to superior surface of bladder,creating SUPRAVESICAL
FOSSA.
PARAVESICAL FOSSA
Covers convex superior surface of bladder and slopes down sides of
roof to ascend lateral wall of pelvis, creating a paravesicalfossa on
each side.
• URETERIC FOLD
• Descends posterior surface of bladder as much
as 2 cm.Laterally ,forms fold over
• Ureters(ureteric fold),Ductus deferens , and
superior ends of Seminal glands.
• RECTOVESICAL POUCH
• Reflects from bladder and seminal glands onto
rectum,forming rectovesical pouch.It
• extends laterally and posteriorly to form a
pararectal fossa on each side of rectum.
• PARARECTAL FOSSA
• Ascends rectum,form inferior to superior,rectum is
subperitoneal and then retroperitoneal .Engulfs
sigmoid colon beginning at recto sigmoid junction.
• SUPRAVESICAL FOSSA
• Descends anterior abdominal wall (loose
attachment allows insertion of bladder as it fills
Reflects onto superior
• surface of bladder,creating SUPRAVESICAL FOSSA
• PARAVESICAL FOSSA
• Covers convex superior surface of bladder
• and slopes down sides of roof to ascend lateral wall