Peritoneal cavity
The peritoneal cavity is a potential space between the parietal peritoneum (the peritoneum that surrounds the abdominal wall) and visceral peritoneum (the peritoneum that surrounds the internal organs).[1][2] The parietal and visceral peritonea are layers of the peritoneum named depending on their function/location. It is one of the spaces derived from the coelomic cavity of the embryo, the others being the pleural cavities around the lungs and the pericardial cavity around the heart.
Peritoneal cavity | |
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Details | |
Precursor | intraembryonic coelom |
Identifiers | |
Latin | Cavitas peritonealis, saccus serosus peritonei |
MeSH | D010529 |
TA | A10.1.02.001 |
TH | H3.04.08.0.00011 |
FMA | 14704 |
Anatomical terminology |
It is the largest serosal sac, and the largest fluid-filled cavity[3], in the body and secretes approximately 50 ml of fluid per day. This fluid acts as a lubricant and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Clinical significance
The peritoneal cavity is a common injection site, used in intraperitoneal injection.
An increase in the capillary pressure in the abdominal viscera can cause fluid to leave the interstitial space and enter the peritoneal cavity, a condition called ascites.
In cases where cerebrospinal fluid builds up, such as in hydrocephalus, the fluid is commonly diverted to the peritoneal cavity by use of a shunt placed by surgery.[4]
Body fluid sampling from the peritoneal cavity is called peritoneocentesis.
The peritoneal cavity is involved in peritoneal dialysis.
See also
References
- "peritoneal cavity" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- Tank, P. (2013) Grants Dissector 15th ed., ch.4 The abdomen, p.99
- Heimbürger, Olof (1 January 2019). "29 - Peritoneal Physiology". Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis, and Transplantation (Fourth Edition). Elsevier: 450–469.e6. doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-52978-5.00029-x.
- Adzick, Scott; Thom, Spong; Brock, Burrows; et al. (17 March 2011). "A Randomized Trial of Prenatal versus Postnatal Repair of Myelomeningocele". The New England Journal of Medicine. 364 (11): 993–1004. doi:10.1056/nejmoa1014379. PMC 3770179. PMID 21306277.
External links
- peritoneum at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)