Diagnostic Ultrasound - Abdomen and Pelvis

Peritoneal Spaces and Structures
PERITONEAL CAVITY
Liver (caudate lobe)
Anatomy: Abdomen
Lesser omentum
Lesser sac
Stomach
Pancreas
Superior mesenteric
artery
Duodenum (3rd portion)
Gastrocolic ligament
Transverse mesocolon
Transverse colon
Greater omentum
Small bowel mesentery
Graphic of a sagittal section of the abdomen shows the peritoneal cavity artificially distended, as with air. Note the margins of the
lesser sac in this plane, including the caudate lobe of the liver, stomach, and gastrocolic ligament anteriorly and pancreas posteriorly.
The hepatogastric ligament is part of the lesser omentum and carries the hepatic artery and portal vein to the liver. The mesenteries
are multilayered folds of the peritoneum that enclose a layer of fat and convey blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics to the
intraperitoneal abdominal viscera. The greater omentum is a 4-layered fold of the peritoneum that extends down from the stomach,
covering much of the colon and small intestine. The layers are generally fused together caudal to the transverse colon. The gastrocolic
ligament is part of the greater omentum.
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