| Lesser omentum |
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The lesser omentum extends from the liver to the stomach and the duodenum.
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| Details |
| Latin |
omentum minus |
| Identifiers |
| Gray's |
p.1156 |
| MeSH |
A01.047.025.600.573 |
Dorlands
/Elsevier |
o_03/12589823 |
| TA |
A10.1.02.101 |
| FMA |
9715 |
| Anatomical terminology |
The lesser omentum (small omentum; gastrohepatic omentum; Latin: omentum minus) 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).
Contents
- 1 Structure
- 2 Divisions
- 3 Contents
- 4 Additional images
- 5 See also
- 6 References
- 7 External links
Structure
The primitive mesentery of a six weeks’ human embryo, half schematic. (Lesser omentum labeled at left.)
Schematic and enlarged cross-section through the body of a human embryo in the region of the mesogastrium, at end of third month
The lesser omentum is extremely thin, and is continuous with the two layers of peritoneum which cover respectively the antero-superior and postero-inferior surfaces of the stomach and first part of the duodenum.
When these two layers reach the lesser curvature of the stomach and the upper border of the duodenum, they join together and ascend as a double fold to the porta hepatis.
To the left of the porta, the fold is attached to the bottom of the fossa for the ductus venosus, along which it is carried to the diaphragm, where the two layers separate to embrace the end of the esophagus.
At the right border of the lesser omentum, the two layers are continuous, and form a free margin which constitutes the anterior boundary of the omental foramen.
Divisions
Anatomically, the lesser omentum is divided into ligaments, each starting with the prefix "hepato" to indicate that it connects to the liver at one end.
Most sources divide it into two parts:[1]
- hepatogastric ligament: the portion connecting to the lesser curvature of the stomach
- hepatoduodenal ligament: the portion connecting to the duodenum
In some cases, the following ligaments are considered part of the lesser omentum:
- hepatophrenic ligament: the portion connecting to the thoracic diaphragm[2]
- hepatoesophageal ligament: the portion connecting to the esophagus[3]
- hepatocolic ligament: the portion connecting to the colon
Contents
Between the two layers of the lesser omentum, close to the right free margin, are the hepatic artery, the common bile duct, the portal vein, lymphatics, and the hepatic plexus of nerves—all these structures being enclosed in a fibrous capsule (Glisson's capsule).
Between the layers of the lesser omentum, where they are attached to the stomach, run the right and left gastric arteries, as well as the gastric veins.
Additional images
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Diagrams to illustrate the development of the greater omentum and transverse mesocolon.
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Horizontal disposition of the peritoneum in the upper part of the abdomen.
See also
- Peritoneum
- Greater omentum
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ abdominalcavity at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (peritoneumonsagcut, xsectthrulesseromentum)
- ^ Anatomy photo:38:st-0304 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: Ligaments"
- ^ Anatomy photo:37:05-0103 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Abdominal Cavity: The Lesser Omentum"
External links
- Anatomy figure: 37:04-01 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The stomach and lesser omentum."
- Anatomy photo:37:05-0100 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Abdominal Cavity: The Lesser Omentum"
- Anatomy photo:38:03-0102 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: Contents of the Hepatoduodenal Ligament"
- Anatomy image:7823 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Anatomy image:8147 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Peritoneal Cavity Development - Page 6 of 14 anatomy module at med.umich.edu
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Anatomy of the peritoneum and mesentery
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| General |
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| Abdominal |
From
ventral
mesentery |
- Lesser omentum
- Hepatoduodenal ligament
- Hepatogastric ligament
- Liver
- Coronary ligament
- (Left triangular ligament
- Right triangular ligament
- Hepatorenal ligament)
- Falciform ligament (Round ligament of liver and Ligamentum venosum in it, but not of it)
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From
dorsal
mesentery |
- Greater omentum
- Gastrophrenic ligament
- Gastrocolic ligament
- Gastrosplenic ligament
- Mesentery
- Transverse mesocolon
- Sigmoid mesocolon
- Mesoappendix
- Root of the mesentery
- Splenorenal ligament
- Phrenicocolic ligament
- Folds
- Umbilical folds
- Supravesical fossa
- Medial inguinal fossa
- Lateral umbilical fold
- Lateral inguinal fossa
- Ileocecal fold
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Abdominal
cavity |
- Greater sac
- Lesser sac
- Omental foramen
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| General |
- Cystohepatic triangle
- Hepatorenal recess of subhepatic space
- Abdominal wall
- Peritoneal recesses
- Paracolic gutters
- Paramesenteric gutters
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| Pelvic |
| Uterus/ovaries |
- Broad ligament of the uterus
- Mesovarium
- Mesosalpinx
- Mesometrium)
- Ovarian ligament
- Suspensory ligament of ovary
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| Recesses |
- Male
- Recto-vesical pouch
- Pararectal fossa
- Female
- Recto-uterine pouch
- Recto-uterine fold (Uterosacral ligament)
- Vesico-uterine pouch
- Ovarian fossa
- Paravesical fossa
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| Spaces |
- Extraperitoneal space
- Retroperitoneal space
- Retropubic space
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Index of digestion
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| Description |
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Development
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| Disease |
- Congenital
- Neoplasms and cancer
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Gluten sensitivity
- Other
- Symptoms and signs
- Blood tests
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| Treatment |
- Procedures
- Drugs
- anabolic steroids
- antacids
- diarrhoea and infection
- bile and liver
- functional gastrointestinal disorders
- laxatives
- peptic ulcer and reflux
- nausea and vomiting
- other
- Surgery
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