The suprarenal (adrenal) glands lie immediately superior and slightly anterior to the superior pole of each kidney (see Figure 72.5, Figure 61.8 ). The glands are golden yellow in colour and are enclosed within the renal fascia, where they are…
The spleen is a large, encapsulated, complex mass of vascular and lymphoid tissues situated in the upper left quadrant of the abdominal cavity between the fundus of the stomach and the respiratory diaphragm. It is mainly concerned with phagocytosis and…
The pancreas is one of the largest digestive glands. Its primary function is exocrine, secreting enzymes involved in the digestion of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins. It has an additional endocrine function derived from clusters of cells scattered throughout the gland,…
The biliary tree comprises the system of ducts that collect and deliver bile from the liver to the descending (second) part of the duodenum. It is conventionally divided into intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary trees. The intrahepatic ducts are formed from…
The liver is the largest of the abdominal viscera, occupying a substantial portion of the upper abdominal cavity. It occupies most of the right hypochondriac and epigastric regions and frequently extends into the left hypochondriac region as far as the…
The large intestine extends from the ileocaecal junction to the anus ( Fig. 65.1 ). It begins as the caecum and vermiform appendix, which are usually located in the right iliac fossa. The ascending colon passes superiorly in the right…
Overview The small intestine consists of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. It extends from the pylorus to the ileocaecal junction and has a mean length of 5 metres (3–8.5 metres) when measured intraoperatively in adults ( ). The duodenum extends…
Abdominal Part of the Oesophagus The abdominal part of the oesophagus is 1–2.5 cm long, lies to the left of the midline and is slightly broader at the cardiac orifice than at the oesophageal hiatus, which lies at the level…
The peritoneum is the largest serous membrane in the body. In males the peritoneum forms a closed sac, but in females it is open at the abdominal ostia of the uterine tubes. Its smooth appearance is unremarkable, but its conformation…
Definitions, Boundaries and Contents The posterior abdominal wall has no agreed uniform definition. It is the posterior boundary of the abdominal cavity, and in common with the anterior and lateral abdominal walls, it is composed of several layers (skin, superficial…