Fig. 27—The Peritoneum. (Gray)
The Peritoneum.
—During life and in the uncut corpse the peritoneal cavity is air-tight. It is not a real cavity, as muscular tension and atmospheric pressure permit no vacant space to form. When the surgeon or embalmer opens the abdomen, the peritoneal cavity is at that moment produced.
The peritoneum is the largest serous membrane in the body. In the male it is a closed sac, a part of which is applied against the abdominal sides, while the remainder is reflected over the contained viscera. In the female it is not a closed sac, since the free extremities of the fallopian tubes open directly into the peritoneal cavity.
The parietal peritoneum is that portion applied against the abdominal sides.
The visceral peritoneum is that portion reflected over the viscera.
The peritoneum consists of two sacs.
The greater sac lines the greater part of the abdominal cavity as almost all of the viscera are covered by it.
The lesser sac is placed behind the stomach. These two sacs communicate with each other by a narrow orifice called the Foramen of Winslow.