Abdominal Anatomy Review Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary and anatomical relationships study set based on abdominal anatomy review questions.

Gallbladder

An organ most commonly in direct contact with the duodenum.

Pancreas mass (head)

A mass in this location most commonly compresses the common bile duct.

Inferior mesenteric artery

Provides a branch that supplies the sigmoid colon; its inferior continuation is the superior rectal artery.

Celiac trunk

Supplies the foregut including the stomach and distal esophagus (via left gastric artery), but does not supply the jejunum.

Appendix visceral pain

Pain that is initially referred to the umbilical region.

Hepatoduodenal ligament

A structure containing the common bile duct and the portal vein (immediately anterior to the epiploic foramen); it houses structures passing to and from the porta hepatis.

Proximal rectum

A structure that originates from the hindgut.

Left gastric artery

A direct branch of the celiac trunk along the lesser curvature that gives rise to esophageal branches supplying the distal esophagus.

Splenic vein

A vessel located along the superior border of the pancreas that joins the superior mesenteric vein to form the portal vein.

Gastrosplenic ligament

The structure at the left end of the lesser sac.

Rectus sheath contents

Contains the rectus abdominis, pyramidalis, superior & inferior epigastric vessels, and thoracoabdominal nerves.

Inguinal canal superior wall

Formed by the internal oblique and transversus abdominis.

Median sacral artery

An unpaired parietal branch of the abdominal aorta.

Bare area of liver

The area of the liver located between the layers of the coronary ligament.

Cystic artery

A vessel that usually arises from the right hepatic artery.

External oblique fibers

Fibers that run inferomedially; the aponeurosis contains the superficial inguinal ring.

Hepatopancreatic ampulla

Opens into the second part of the duodenum.

Inferior epigastric artery

A branch of the external iliac artery.

Medial umbilical ligament

A developmental remnant of the umbilical artery.

Midgut

The region that begins distal to the opening of the bile duct (major duodenal papilla).

Indirect inguinal hernias

Hernias resulting from the failure of the processus vaginalis to close.

Common bile duct

Passes posterior to the head of the pancreas and lies within the hepatoduodenal ligament.

Superior epigastric artery

Vessel that lies posterior to the rectus abdominis.

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA)

Passes anterior to the third part of the duodenum; branches include inferior pancreaticoduodenal, jejunal, ileal, ileocolic, right colic, and middle colic.

Teniae coli

The three longitudinal bands named taenia libera, taenia mesocolica, and taenia omentalis.

Lesser omentum

Consists of the hepatogastric and hepatoduodenal ligaments.

Jejunum vs. Ileum

The best distinguishing feature is that the jejunum has long vasa recta (long straight arteries).

Deep inguinal ring

An opening located in the transversalis fascia.

Porta hepatis

An entry/exit point on the liver that does NOT include the left hepatic vein.

Hypogastric region

Also known as the pubic region, located inferior to the transtubercular plane.

Inferior vena cava

The most posterior structure at the epiploic foramen, forming its posterior boundary.

Intraperitoneal organs

Organs including the stomach, liver, spleen, jejunum, ileum, transverse colon, sigmoid colon, cecum, and appendix.

Ligamentum venosum

The structure forming the left boundary of the caudate lobe of the liver.

Abdominal wall function

Assists forced expiration (false that it is used for forced inspiration).

Duodenum (Peritoneal status)

The organ that is primarily or secondarily retroperitoneal in most of its extent.