322 Midsagittal Sections through the Abdominal Cavity

Midsagittal section through the trunk (female). Midsagittal section through the trunk (female).

(Schematic drawing.) Blue = omental bursa; red = peritoneum.

1 Sternum

2 Right ventricle of heart

3 Diaphragm

4 Liver

5 Stomach

6 Transverse mesocolon

7 Transverse colon

8 Umbilicus

9 Mesentery

10 Small intestine

11 Uterus

12 Urinary bladder

13 Pubic symphysis

14 Left atrium of heart

15 Caudate lobe of liver

16 Omental bursa or lesser sac

17 Conus medullaris

18 Pancreas

19 Cauda equina

20 Intervertebral discs

(lumbar vertebral column)

21 Sacral promontory

22 Sigmoid colon

23 Anal canal

24 Anus

25 Lesser omentum

26 Greater omentum

27 Vesico-uterine pouch

28 Urethra

29 Epiploic (omental) foramen

30 Duodenum

31 Rectum

32 Recto-uterine pouch

33 Vaginal part of

cervix of uterus

34 Vagina

323

6 Retroperitoneal Organs

1 Kidney

2 Ureter

3 Inferior vena cava

4 Abdominal aorta

5 Ovary

6 Uterine tube

7 Uterus

8 Round ligament and inguinal canal

9 Urinary bladder

10 Vagina

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9

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Position of kidneys, urinary and genital organs

in the female (anterior aspect, schematic drawing).

The excursions of the kidneys with the respiratory

movements of the diaphragm are indicated.

Retroperitoneal organs of the female (anterior aspect). View of

the female pelvis showing uterus with uterine ligaments, ovary, and

urinary bladder (from Lütjen-Drecoll, Rohen, Innenansichten des

menschlichen Körpers, 2010).

The organs of the urinary system (kidney, ureter,

and, in the female, genital organs ) are located

together with vessels and nerves (aorta, inferior

vena cava, plexus solaris, etc.) within the retroperitoneal space.

The upper part of the kidneys reaches the level

of the margin of the lung. During respiration,

the kidneys move slightly within their fasciae of

Gerota. Parallel with the vertebral column, the

ureter runs towards the urinary bladder. The

great center of the autonomic nervous system,

the solar plexus (celiac ganglion, etc.), is located

in front of the abdominal aorta.

The genital organs of the female (uterus,

uterine tube, ovary) are located within the

pelvic cavity. In the male, the testis has moved

out of the abdominal cavity and penetrated the

inguinal canal to be finally located within the

extragenital organs.

324 Position of the Urinary Organs

Horizontal section through the abdominal cavity at the level of the first lumbar vertebra

(from below).

Positions of urinary organs (posterior aspect, schematic drawing).

Notice that the upper part of the kidney reaches the level of the

margin of pleura and lung.

Retroperitoneal tissue, position of the right kidney

(schematic drawing).

Yellow = adipose capsule of kidney.

1 Pyloric antrum

2 Gastroduodenal artery

3 Descending part of

duodenum

4 Vestibule of lesser sac

5 Inferior vena cava and liver

6 Body of first lumbar vertebra

7 Cauda equina

8 Right kidney

9 Latissimus dorsi muscle

10 Iliocostalis muscle

11 Rectus abdominis muscle

12 Stomach

13 Lesser sac

14 Splenic vein

15 Superior mesenteric artery

16 Pancreas

17 Aorta and left renal artery

18 Transverse colon

19 Renal artery and vein

20 Spleen

21 Left kidney

22 Psoas major muscle

23 Multifidus muscle

24 Margin of lung

25 Margin of pleura

26 Renal pelvis

27 Left ureter

28 Descending colon

29 Rectum

30 Right suprarenal gland

31 Twelfth rib

32 Ascending colon

33 Right ureter

34 Cecum

35 Vermiform appendix

36 Urinary bladder

37 Liver

38 Anterior layer of renal fascia

39 Duodenum

40 Perirenal fatty tissue

41 Posterior layer of renal fascia

42 Abdominal cavity

Sections through the Retroperitoneal Region 325

Parasagittal section through the thoracic and abdominal

cavities at the level of the left kidney (5.5 cm left of median plane).

Horizontal section through the retroperitoneal region

at the level of 12th thoracic vertebra (CT scan, from below).

Retroperitoneal tissue, position of the left kidney

(schematic drawing).

1 Scalenus anterior, medius, and posterior muscles

2 Left subclavian artery

3 Left subclavian vein

4 Pulmonic valve

5 Arterial cone

6 Right ventricle of heart

7 Liver

8 Stomach

9 Transverse colon

10 Small intestine

11 Left lung

12 Left main bronchus

13 Branches of pulmonary vein

14 Left ventricle of heart

15 Spleen

16 Splenic artery and vein and pancreas

17 Left kidney

18 Psoas major muscle

19 Inferior vena cava

20 Renal vein

21 Body of twelfth thoracic vertebra and vertebral canal

22 Right kidney

23 Superior mesenteric artery

24 Superior mesenteric vein

25 Pancreas

26 Abdominal aorta

27 Left psoas major and quadratus lumborum muscles

28 Anterior layer of renal fascia of Gerota

29 Posterior layer of renal fascia

30 Perirenal fatty tissue

31 Abdominal cavity

32 Descending and sigmoid colon

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