(16) Abdominal Viscera I Lecture Notes

75 practice vocabulary flashcards covering abdominal viscera including the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and major abdominal arteries based on the provided lecture notes.

Anatomical lobes of the liver

The four divisions of the liver (right, left, caudate, and quadrate) based on gross anatomical appearance.

H-shape Pattern

These divisions create an 'H'-shape pattern on the visceral (posteroinferior) surface of the liver. This pattern is most visible when the inferior border of the liver is reflected superiorly.

Functional lobes of the liver

Two roughly equal parts of the liver defined by the distribution of the right and left branches of the hepatic artery, hepatic portal vein, and common hepatic duct.

Porta hepatis

The portal fissure on the visceral surface of the liver where the portal triad (hepatic artery, bile duct, and portal vein) enters or exits.

Lesser omentum

A peritoneal fold consisting of hepatogastric and hepatoduodenal parts that attaches the liver to the stomach and duodenum.

Falciform ligament

A peritoneal fold that attaches the liver to the diaphragm and the anterior abdominal wall.

Ligamentum teres (hepatis)

The remnant of the fetal umbilical vein located in the inferior free margin of the falciform ligament.

Ligamentum venosum

The remnant of the ductus venosus, which shunted blood from the umbilical vein to the IVC in the fetus.

Liver Function

• (Synthesis and Storage) - primary - Synthesis of proteins and clotting factors; storage of iron, copper, vitamins, and glycogen.

• (Fetal function): serve as important blood-forming organ in the fetus

• (Chemical Modification); modification of nutrients and detoxification of drugs and toxins.

• every substance absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract—with the exception of lipids—is first received and processed by the liver.

Proper hepatic artery

A branch of the common hepatic artery that supplies $30\%$ of the blood flow to the liver.

Hepatic portal vein

A vessel collecting blood from the GI tract, supplying $70\%$ of the blood flow to the liver.

Portal system

A venous system where valves are insignificant or absent, beginning as capillaries in GI organs and ending in liver sinusoids.

Portacaval anastomoses

Locations where the portal venous system communicates with the systemic venous system, including esophageal, umbilical, and rectal plexuses.

Hepatic veins

Veins that leave the posterior surface of the liver to open directly into the inferior vena cava.

Portal hypertension

Obstruction of blood flow through the hepatic circulation, often resulting from cirrhosis and leading to usage of portacaval anastomoses.

Cirrhosis

Atrophy or destruction of liver cells and hypertrophy of connective tissue, which impedes circulation through the liver.

Jaundice

A yellow appearance of the skin due to accumulation of bile pigment, often from obstruction of the bile duct system.

Gallbladder location

A depression called the gallbladder fossa along the right edge of the quadrate lobe of the liver.

Parts of the gallbladder

The fundus, body, and neck.

Gallbladder surface anatomy

Located at the intersection of the linea semilunaris and the right costal margin.

Common hepatic duct

The duct formed by the fusion of the right and left hepatic ducts.

Cystic duct

The duct connecting the gallbladder to the common hepatic duct.

Bile duct

Formed by the merging of the cystic duct and common hepatic duct; it runs in the free edge of the hepatoduodenal ligament.

Hepatopancreatic ampulla

The structure formed by the joining of the bile duct and the main pancreatic duct before entering the duodenum.

Hepatopancreatic sphincter

The sphincter of the ampulla, composed of smooth muscle, which thickens the walls of the ampulla.

Greater duodenal papilla

The projection in the second part of the duodenum where the hepatopancreatic ampulla opens.

Bile function

An amphiphilic fluid that renders ingested fats more soluble in water for digestive enzymes.

Cystic artery

Usually a branch from the right hepatic artery that provides blood to the gallbladder.

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder which cause pain and can lead to jaundice if bile enters the blood.

Pancreas

An exocrine and endocrine gland consisting of a head, body, neck, and tail.

Islets of Langerhans

The endocrine portion of the pancreas that regulates blood glucose homeostasis.

Pancreatic head location

The part of the pancreas lying in the $C$ of the duodenum.

Exocrine pancreatic secretion

An alkaline mixture of enzymes that aid in the digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

Insulin

Hormone secreted by beta cells in the pancreas to lower blood sugar.

Glucagon

Hormone secreted by alpha cells in the pancreas to raise blood sugar.

Pancreatic blood supply

Branches from the splenic artery, gastroduodenal artery, and superior mesenteric artery.

Pancreatitis

A serious inflammatory condition of the exocrine pancreas caused by blocked ducts or bile reflux.

Cancer of the pancreas

Typically involves the head and is a common cause of extrahepatic obstruction of the biliary system.

Cystic Fibrosis (Pancreas)

A genetic disease causing thick mucus that leads to the inability to digest nutrients.

Spleen

A lymphatic organ that produces lymphocytes and monocytes and breaks down old red blood cells.

Bilirubin

The product created indirectly from the heme portion of hemoglobin and conducted to the liver via the portal vein.

Spleen anatomical position

Located on the left at the level of ribs $9-11$ behind the midaxillary line (MAL).

Splenic blood supply

The splenic artery from the celiac trunk and the splenic vein.

Splenomegaly

Abnormal enlargement of the spleen associated with diseases like mononucleosis or malaria.

Abdominal aorta landmarks

Begins at the $T12$ vertebra and ends at the $L4$ vertebra.

Common iliac arteries

The two branches formed by the division of the abdominal aorta at $L4$.

Lumbar arteries

Small segmental parietal branches of the abdominal aorta.

Celiac trunk

A visceral branch of the aorta giving rise to the left gastric, splenic, and common hepatic arteries.

Left gastric artery

Supplies the lesser curvature of the stomach and the abdominal part of the esophagus.

Splenic artery

Supplies the spleen, body and tail of the pancreas, and greater curvature of the stomach.

Common hepatic artery

Supplies the liver, gallbladder, stomach, duodenum, and head of the pancreas.

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA)

Supplies the distal half of the duodenum, small intestine, ascending colon, and right half of the transverse colon.

Intestinal arteries

The $6-12$ branches from the superior mesenteric artery traveling to the small intestine.

Ileocolic artery

The large artery from the superior mesenteric artery supplying the cecum.

Inferior mesenteric artery (IMA)

Supplies the left half of the transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum.

Marginal artery

An anastomotic channel near the colon connecting branches of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries.

Internal iliac arteries

Principal blood supply to the pelvic viscera, perineum, medial thigh, and gluteal region.

External iliac arteries

Arteries that become the femoral arteries after passing deep to the inguinal ligament.

Splenic vein connection

Joins the superior mesenteric vein to form the portal vein.

Paraumbilical veins

Veins that anastomose with epigastric veins to the external iliac veins.

Superior rectal vein

Communicates with the middle and inferior rectal veins to the internal iliac veins.

Left gastric vein connection

Anastomoses with esophageal veins that lead to the azygos vein.

H-shape pattern

The pattern on the visceral surface of the liver formed by fissures and fossae dividing the lobes.

Liver's blood-forming role

Acts as an important blood forming organ specifically in the fetus.

Hepatic nerve supply

Derived from sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves via the autonomic plexus around the celiac trunk.

Portal vein composition

Receives blood from the superior and inferior mesenteric veins as well as the splenic vein.

Bile storage mechanism

Bile is forced back into the cystic duct/gallbladder when the sphincter at the duodenal papilla is constricted.

Somatostatin

One of the hormones secreted by the endocrine portion of the pancreas.

Right colic artery

A branch of the superior mesenteric artery supplying the ascending colon.

Middle colic artery

A branch of the superior mesenteric artery supplying the hepatic flexure of the colon.

Left colic artery

A branch of the inferior mesenteric artery supplying the descending colon.

Sigmoid arteries

Branches of the inferior mesenteric artery supplying the sigmoid colon.

Superior rectal artery

A branch of the inferior mesenteric artery supplying the rectum.

Gastroduodenal artery

A branch of the common hepatic artery supplying the duodenum and pancreas.

Left gastroomental artery

A branch of the splenic artery that supplies the greater curvature of the stomach.

Right gastroomental artery

A branch of the common hepatic artery supplying the greater curvature of the stomach.