Abdominal Anatomy and Viscera

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards reviewing abdominal wall anatomy, peritoneal cavity, gastrointestinal tract, hepatobiliary apparatus, abdominal organs, and lumbar and sacral osteology.

Abdomen

The region of the trunk situated below the diaphragm and above the pelvis at the pelvic inlet, divided anatomically into an anterior abdominal wall and a posterior abdominal wall.

Anterior Abdominal Wall

The musculoaponeurotic boundary extending anteriorly from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis, and posteriorly from the thoracic cage to the gluteal region.

Parietal Peritoneum

The outer layer of the serous membrane that lines the internal surface of the abdominal and pelvic walls as well as the inferior surface of the diaphragm.

Visceral Peritoneum

The inner layer of the serous membrane that directly invests and covers the external surface of the abdominal viscera.

SAD PUCKER

A mnemonic summarizing retroperitoneal organs: Suprarenal gland, Aorta/IVC, Duodenum ($2^{\text{nd}}$ and $3^{\text{rd}}$ parts), Pancreas (except tail), Ureters, Colon (ascending and descending), Kidney, and Esophagus.

Abdominal Esophagus

The short terminal segment of the esophagus measuring approximately $1.25\,\text{cm}$ in length, entering the abdominal cavity through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm at vertebral level $\text{T10}$.

Stomach (Gaster / Venter)

A muscular bag that constitutes the widest and most distensible segment of the alimentary canal, located between the esophagus and the duodenum.

Stomach Capacity

The internal volume of the stomach, measuring $30\text{--}50\,\text{ml}$ in a newborn and expanding to $1000\text{--}1500\,\text{ml}$ in an adult.

Stomach Bed

The anatomic structures upon which the posteroinferior surface of the stomach rests, consisting of the left crus of the diaphragm, left suprarenal gland, anterior surface of the left kidney, splenic artery, anterior surface of the pancreas, transverse colon, and the gastric impression of the spleen.

Duodenal Cap

The triangular radiographic shadow observed following a barium meal, corresponding to the first ($5\,\text{cm}$) segment of the duodenum.

Supraduodenal Artery of Wilkie

A vascular branch arising from the common hepatic artery that contributes arterial supply to the first part of the duodenum.

Small Intestine Proper

The mobile segments of the small intestine consisting of the jejunum (upper $2/5^{\text{th}}$) and ileum (lower $3/5^{\text{th}}$), suspended from the posterior abdominal wall by the mesentery.

Plicae Circulares

Transverse mucosal folds that are tall, large, and closely packed in the jejunum, but smaller, widely separated, and absent in the terminal $6\,\text{inches}$ of the ileum.

Taeniae Coli

Three distinct longitudinal muscular bands formed by the outer longitudinal smooth muscle layer of the large intestine: taenia libera, taenia mesocolica, and taenia omentalis.

Appendices Epiploicae

Fat-filled peritoneal outpouchings located along the length of the large intestine, absent on the caecum, vermiform appendix, and rectum.

Caecum

A blind cul-de-sac situated in the right iliac fossa above the lateral half of the inguinal ligament, measuring $6\,\text{cm}$ in length and $7.5\,\text{cm}$ in breadth.

Vermiform Appendix

A narrow, worm-like tubular diverticulum originating from the posteromedial wall of the caecum approximately $2\,\text{cm}$ below the ileocaecal valve.

Retrocolic Appendix

The most common anatomical orientation of the vermiform appendix, pointing in the $12\text{ o'clock}$ direction behind the ascending colon.

Marginal Artery of Drummond

A continuous anastomotic arcade positioned along the inner border of the colon, formed by branches of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries.

Liver

The second largest organ and largest gland of the human body, weighing $1200\text{ to }1500\,\text{g}$ ($4\text{--}5\%$ of body weight), executing exocrine functions by secreting bile and endocrine functions by releasing glucose, heparin, and plasma proteins into the blood.

Porta Hepatis

A $5\,\text{cm}$ long transverse fissure on the inferior surface of the right hepatic lobe serving as the hepatic gateway where the portal vein, hepatic artery, and nerve plexus enter, and hepatic ducts and lymphatics exit.

Ligamentum Teres Hepatis

A true developmental ligament of the liver running in the fissure for ligamentum teres, representing the obliterated fibrous remnant of the embryonic left umbilical vein.

Ligamentum Venosum

A true developmental fibrous cord of the liver located in the fissure on the inferior surface, representing the remnant of the fetal ductus venosus.

Dual Hepatic Blood Supply

The specialized circulatory arrangement supplying the liver with $20\%$ arterial blood via the hepatic artery and $80\%$ venous blood rich in nutrients via the portal vein.

Common Hepatic Duct

A bile duct approximately $3\,\text{cm}$ long formed by the confluence of the right and left hepatic ducts at the porta hepatis.

Gallbladder

A pear-shaped reservoir for bile lodged in a fossa on the visceral surface of the right lobe of the liver, measuring $7\text{--}10\,\text{cm}$ in length and $3\,\text{cm}$ in width with a storage capacity of $30\text{--}50\,\text{ml}$.

Cystic Duct

A $3\text{--}4\,\text{cm}$ long duct that conveys bile from the neck of the gallbladder to unite with the common hepatic duct, forming the common bile duct.

Hepatopancreatic Ampulla (Ampulla of Vater)

The dilated chamber formed by the union of the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct, opening at the major duodenal papilla and regulated by the sphincter of Oddi.

Spleen

A secondary lymphoid organ connected to the blood vascular system, positioned in the left hypochondrium and epigastrium, measuring $2.5\,\text{cm}$ thick, $7.5\,\text{cm}$ broad, $12.5\,\text{cm}$ long, and weighing $7\,\text{ounces}$.

Pancreas

A soft, lobulated mixed exocrine-endocrine gland measuring $15\text{--}20\,\text{cm}$ in length and weighing $90\,\text{g}$, positioned horizontally across the posterior abdominal wall.

Typical Lumbar Vertebrae (L1–L4)

Vertebrae identifiable by a large kidney-shaped body, triangular vertebral foramen, strong pedicles, broad thick laminae, quadrangular spinous process, and absence of both costal facets and transverse foramina.

Fifth Lumbar Vertebra (L5)

An atypical lumbar vertebra recognized by having the largest vertebral body, short and pyramidal transverse processes, and inferior articular processes separated by a distance equal to or exceeding that between superior articular processes.

Sacral Index

The metric ratio of sacral width to length, averaging $105$ in males (producing a longer, narrower bone) and $115$ in females (producing a shorter, broader bone).

Sacrum

A large, triangular wedge of bone situated at the lower back, formed by the complete bony fusion of five individual sacral vertebrae.

Coccyx

A small terminal triangular bone of the vertebral column formed by the fusion of four rudimentary coccygeal vertebrae.