The Anatomy of the Human Peritoneum and Abdominal Cavity / Considered from the Standpoint of Development and Comparative Anatomy

by George S. Huntington

In the human fœtus in the 4th month the connection is still so slight that the omentum can readily be separated from the transverse colon and mesocolon.

Further dorsad the cephalic layer of the transverse mesocolon adheres to the serous investment of the caudal surface of the pancreas, derived, as we have seen, from the same dorsal layer of the great omentum.

3. The duodenum and mesoduodenum are fixed by adhesion on the one hand to the parietal peritoneum, on the other to the caudal layer of the transverse mesocolon near the root of that membrane.

4. The cavity of the omental bursa is usually obliterated in the adult caudad of the level of the transverse colon, by adhesion of the apposed surfaces of the two intermediate omental layers.

We have therefore three general areas of secondary peritoneal adhesion to deal with (Fig. 225), viz.:

1. Dorsal layer of primitive mesogastrium (great omentum) including the serous investment of the dorsal and caudal surfaces of the pancreas (Fig. 225, 1).			to			Parietal peritoneum, cephalic layer of transverse mesocolon and cephalic surface of transverse colon.
2. Transverse duodenum and mesoduodenum (Fig. 225, 2).			to			Parietal peritoneum and caudal layer of transverse mesocolon.
3. Between the apposed serous surfaces of the intermediate omental layers (Fig. 225, 3).

Fig. 226.—Schematic sagittal section of adult human peritoneum.

These areas of adhesion result naturally in the production of secondary lines of peritoneal transition as follows:

1. Figs. 225, 1; 226, 1, from the omentum, dorsal layer, to the caudal surface of transverse colon, caudal layer of transverse mesocolon and caudal surface of the pancreas.