mesocolon

What is the mesentery/mesocolon formed by?

Two layers of peritoneum, each with a serous layer and a sub-serous layer and loose connective tissue between them that envelops blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels.

What degree of mobility does the mesentery offer to the organ?

It offers a degree of mobility to the organ.

What are the parts of a mesentery?

• A root – where the visceral peritoneum continues with the parietal peritoneum.

• A free border that envelops the gut segment with the exception of the space for blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics.

• Two aspects represented by the peritoneal folds.

What are the main mesenteries of the digestive tract?

• The mesentery

• The transverse mesocolon

• The sigmoid mesocolon

• The mesoappendix

What is the transverse mesocolon?

A horizontal fold of peritoneum that suspends the transverse colon from the posterior abdominal wall.

Describe the line of attachment of the root of the transverse mesocolon.

The line of attachment on the posterior wall is horizontal with an upward inclination toward the left.

What structures does the transverse mesocolon attach to from right to left?

The anterior aspect of the head and the anterior border of the body of the pancreas.

What is the sigmoid mesocolon?

A triangular fold of peritoneum that suspends the sigmoid colon from the posterior abdominal wall.

What is the form of the root of attachment of the sigmoid mesocolon?

The root has the form of an inverted “V”.

What lies at the apex of the inverted “V” of the sigmoid mesocolon root?

The bifurcation of the left common iliac artery.

What lies in the intersigmoid peritoneal recess at the apex of the inverted “V”?

The left ureter.