Greater omentum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Greater omentum | |
|---|---|
| Vertical disposition of the peritoneum. Main cavity, red; omental bursa, blue. (Greater omentum labeled at left.) | |
| Diagrams to illustrate two stages in the development of the digestive tube and its mesentery. The arrow indicates the entrance to the bursa omentalis. | |
| Latin | omentum majus |
| Gray's | subject #246 1157 |
| MeSH | Omentum |
The greater omentum (great omentum; gastrocolic omentum; epiploon) is a large fold of peritoneum that hangs down from the stomach, and extends from the stomach to the transverse colon.
Contents |
[edit] Structure
The greater omentum is the largest peritoneal fold. It consists of a double sheet of peritoneum, folded on itself so that it is made up of four layers.
The two layers which descend from the stomach and commencement of the duodenum pass in front of the small intestines, sometimes as low down as the pelvis; they then turn upon themselves, and ascend again as far as the transverse colon, where they separate and enclose that part of the intestine.
These individual layers may be easily demonstrated in the young subject, but in the adult they are more or less inseparably blended.
The left border of the greater omentum is continuous with the gastrolienal ligament; its right border extends as far as the commencement of the duodenum.
The greater omentum is usually thin, presents a cribriform appearance, and always contains some adipose tissue, which in obese people accumulates in considerable quantity.
Between its two anterior layers, a short distance from the greater curvature of the stomach, is the anastomosis between the right and left gastroepiploic vessels.
[edit] Subdivisions
The greater omentum is often defined to encompass a variety of structures, and can thus be subdivided into the following:
- Gastrophrenic ligament
- Gastrosplenic ligament
- Phrenicosplenic ligament
- Splenorenal ligament
- Pancreaticosplenic ligament
- Pancreaticocolic ligament
- Splenocolic ligament
- Phrenicocolic ligament
[edit] Additional images
The celiac artery and its branches; the liver has been raised, and the lesser omentum and anterior layer of the greater omentum removed. |
Schematic figure of the bursa omentalis, etc. Human embryo of eight weeks. |
Diagrams to illustrate the development of the greater omentum and transverse mesocolon. |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- SUNY Figs 37:03-07
- SUNY Figs 37:05-12
- SUNY Labs 37:07-0100
- Diagram at Tn.edu
- Photo of model at waynesburg.edu
 | This anatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant. de:Omentum majus
