Lesser omentum

Lesser omentum
Lesser omentum
Gray984.png
The primitive mesentery of a six weeks’ human embryo, half schematic. (Lesser omentum labeled at left.)
Gray1104.png
Schematic and enlarged cross-section through the body of a human embryo in the region of the mesogastrium, at end of third month.
Latin omentum minus
Gray's subject #246 1156
MeSH Omentum

The lesser omentum (small omentum; gastrohepatic omentum; omentum minus) is the double layer of peritoneum that extends from the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach and the start of the duodenum.

Contents

Structure

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 epiploic 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]


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

See also

References

  1. ^ abdominalcavity at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (peritoneumonsagcut, xsectthrulesseromentum)
  2. ^ SUNY Labs 38:st-0304 - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: Ligaments"
  3. ^ SUNY Labs 37:05-0103 - "Abdominal Cavity: The Lesser Omentum"

External links

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • lesser omentum — n a part of the peritoneum attached to the liver and to the lesser curvature of the stomach and supporting the hepatic vessels compare GREATER OMENTUM * * * o. minus …   Medical dictionary

  • lesser omentum — n. OMENTUM …   English World dictionary

  • lesser omentum — noun a part of the peritoneum attached to the stomach and liver and supporting the hepatic vessels • Hypernyms: ↑omentum * * * noun : an omentum connecting the liver and stomach and supporting the hepatic vessels * * * Anat. an omentum attached… …   Useful english dictionary

  • lesser omentum — Anat. an omentum attached to the stomach, part of the duodenum, and part of the liver and supporting the hepatic vessels. Also called gastrohepatic omentum. Cf. greater omentum. * * * …   Universalium

  • Omentum — may refer to: greater omentum lesser omentum This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the inte …   Wikipedia

  • omentum — [ō men′təm] n. pl. omenta [ō men′tə] or omentums [L: * o (< IE base * eu , to put on > L exuere, to strip off: see EXUVIAE) + mentum, MENT] a free fold of the peritoneum connecting the stomach and certain other visceral organs: the greater… …   English World dictionary

  • Omentum — A sheet of fat that is covered by peritoneum. The greater omentum is attached to the bottom edge of the stomach, and hangs down in front of the intestines. Its other edge is attached to the transverse colon. The lesser omentum is attached to the… …   Medical dictionary

  • omentum — omental, adj. /oh men teuhm/, n., pl. omenta / teuh/. Anat. a fold of the peritoneum connecting the stomach and the abdominal viscera forming a protective and supportive covering. Cf. greater omentum, lesser omentum. [1535 45; < L omentum caul… …   Universalium

  • omentum — epiploon; n. a double layer of peritoneum attached to the stomach and linking it with other abdominal organs, such as the liver, spleen, and intestine. The great omentum is a highly folded portion of the omentum, rich in fatty tissue, that covers …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • omentum —   n. (pl.    ♦ omenta) fold of the peritoneum.    ♦ great omentum, fat filled sac covering small intestines.    ♦ lesser omentum, omentum joining stomach with liver.    ♦ omental, a …   Dictionary of difficult words

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