10 FAQs About the Peritoneum

By lizzie

Reviewed: dr. vanta

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. 'Peritoneum.' MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 12 April 2021, medlineplus.gov/peritonealdisorders.html
• 2. Kalra, Arjun, Chase J. Wehrle and Faiz Tuma. 'Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Peritoneum.' StatPearls, January 2021, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534788/
• 3. 'Peritonitis.' Mayo Clinic, mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peritonitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20376247?p=1

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The peritoneum is a membrane that holds the organs of the abdomen in their place.²Kalra, Arjun, Chase J. Wehrle and Faiz Tuma. ‘Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Peritoneum.’ StatPearls, January 2021, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534788/ It is also the pathway for nerves, lymphatics and blood vessels that stem from this area of the body.²Kalra, Arjun, Chase J. Wehrle and Faiz Tuma. ‘Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Peritoneum.’ StatPearls, January 2021, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534788/ Even though the peritoneum is thin, it is comprised of two different layers and may have space between the two.²Kalra, Arjun, Chase J. Wehrle and Faiz Tuma. ‘Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Peritoneum.’ StatPearls, January 2021, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534788/

While disorders of the peritoneum are not common, the membrane can be adversely impacted by a few serious medical conditions.¹‘Peritoneum.’ MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 12 April 2021, medlineplus.gov/peritonealdisorders.html Understanding how this membrane works contributes to general knowledge about abdominal functions.

What Organs are Contained Within the Peritoneum?

The peritoneum is characterized by its membrane structure, which is comprised of mesothelial cells bonded within a layer of fibrous tissue.²Kalra, Arjun, Chase J. Wehrle and Faiz Tuma. ‘Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Peritoneum.’ StatPearls, January 2021, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534788/ It supports several abdominal organs, including the stomach, liver, spleen, ileum, transverse, sigmoid colon and two parts of the duodenum.²Kalra, Arjun, Chase J. Wehrle and Faiz Tuma. ‘Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Peritoneum.’ StatPearls, January 2021, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534788/

Outside of the protective membrane but behind the posterior sheath lies the aorta, ascending and descending colon, kidneys, pancreas, esophagus, adrenal glands, ureters and the other two parts of the duodenum.²Kalra, Arjun, Chase J. Wehrle and Faiz Tuma. ‘Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Peritoneum.’ StatPearls, January 2021, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534788/ The peritoneum is bound by the pelvic floor, diaphragm, vertebrae and anterior abdominal muscles.²Kalra, Arjun, Chase J. Wehrle and Faiz Tuma. ‘Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Peritoneum.’ StatPearls, January 2021, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534788/