Editing Peritoneal cavity

{{Short description|Empty space between parietal and visceral layers of peritoneum}}{{About|the potential space within the abdomen|the body cavity|Abdominal cavity}}{{Infobox anatomy
| Name        = Peritoneal cavity
| Latin       = cavitas peritonealis, <br>saccus serosus peritonei
| Image       =
| Caption     =
| Image2      =
| Caption2    =
| Precursor   = [[Intraembryonic coelom]]
| System      =
| Artery      =
| Vein        =
| Nerve       =
| Lymph       =
}}
The '''peritoneal cavity''' is a [[potential space]] located between the two layers of the [[peritoneum]]—the parietal peritoneum, the [[serous membrane]] that lines the [[abdominal wall]], and visceral peritoneum, which surrounds the [[internal organs]].<ref name="Pannu">{{cite journal |last1=Pannu |first1=HK |last2=Oliphant |first2=M |title=The subperitoneal space and peritoneal cavity: basic concepts |journal=Abdominal Imaging |date=October 2015 |volume=40 |issue=7 |pages=2710–22 |doi=10.1007/s00261-015-0429-5 |pmid=26006061|pmc=4584112 }}</ref> While situated within the [[abdominal cavity]], the term ''peritoneal cavity'' specifically refers to the potential space enclosed by these peritoneal membranes. The cavity contains a thin layer of lubricating [[serous fluid]] that enables the organs to move smoothly against each other, facilitating the movement and expansion of internal organs during digestion.

The parietal and visceral peritonea are named according to their location and function. The peritoneal cavity, derived from the [[coelomic cavity]] in the [[embryo]], is one of several body cavities, including the [[pleural cavities]] surrounding the lungs and the [[pericardial cavity]] around the heart.

The peritoneal cavity is the largest serosal sac and fluid-filled cavity in the body,<ref name="ref3">{{cite journal |last1=Heimbürger |first1=Olof |title=29 - Peritoneal Physiology |journal=Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis, and Transplantation (Fourth Edition) |date=1 January 2019 |pages=450–469.e6 |doi=10.1016/b978-0-323-52978-5.00029-x |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=9780323529785 |language=en}}</ref> it [[Secrete|secretes]] approximately {{Convert|50|mL|U.S.oz|abbr=out}} of fluid daily. This fluid serves as a lubricant and has [[anti-inflammatory]] properties. The cavity is divided into the [[Greater sac|greater]] and [[Lesser sac|lesser sacs]], with the greater sac further subdivided into the supracolic and infracolic compartments.<ref name="Sharma">{{cite journal |last1=Sharma |first1=M |last2=Madambath |first2=JG |last3=Somani |first3=P |last4=Pathak |first4=A |last5=Rameshbabu |first5=CS |last6=Bansal |first6=R |last7=Ramasamy |first7=K |last8=Patil |first8=A |title=Endoscopic ultrasound of peritoneal spaces. |journal=Endoscopic Ultrasound |date=March 2017 |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=90–102 |doi=10.4103/2303-9027.204816 |pmid=28440234|pmc=5418973 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Peritoneal Cavity - Greater Sac - Lesser Sac - TeachMeAnatomy |url=https://teachmeanatomy.info/abdomen/areas/peritoneal-cavity/ |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=teachmeanatomy.info}}</ref>

==Compartments==
{{Further|Greater sac|Lesser sac}}
The peritoneal cavity is divided into the greater and lesser sacs. The greater sac comprises the majority of the peritoneal cavity, while the lesser sac, also known as the omental bursa, is smaller and situated posterior to the stomach and [[lesser omentum]]. They are connected by the [[omental foramen]].<ref name=":0" />

The greater sac is further subdivided into two compartments by the mesentery of the [[transverse colon]], known as the [[transverse mesocolon]]. This division creates an upper and a lower compartment within the greater sac, named the supracolic and infracolic compartment respectively, each housing different organs and structures of the abdominal cavity.<ref name="Sharma" /><ref name=":0" />

The [[liver]], [[spleen]], stomach, and lesser omentum are contained within the supracolic compartment. The [[small intestine]] surrounded by the ascending, transverse, and [[descending colon]], and the [[paracolic gutter]]s are contained within the infracolic compartment.

== Clinical significance ==
The peritoneal cavity is widely used in [[intraperitoneal injections]] to administer [[Chemotherapy drug|chemotherapy drugs]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yu |first=Wansik |date=2003-07-01 |title=Impact of perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy on the treatment of primary gastric cancer |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1055320703000255 |journal=Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America |volume=12 |issue=3 |pages=623–634 |doi=10.1016/S1055-3207(03)00025-5 |issn=1055-3207|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Swart |first=A.M.C. |last2=Burdett |first2=S. |last3=Ledermann |first3=J. |last4=Mook |first4=P. |last5=Parmar |first5=M.K.B. |date=2008 |title=Why i.p. therapy cannot yet be considered as a standard of care for the first-line treatment of ovarian cancer: a systematic review |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdm518 |journal=Annals of Oncology |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=688–695 |doi=10.1093/annonc/mdm518 |issn=0923-7534|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and is also utilized in [[peritoneal dialysis]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=De Vin |first=Filip |last2=Rutherford |first2=Peter |last3=Faict |first3=Dirk |date=January 2009 |title=Intraperitoneal Administration of Drugs in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Review of Compatibility and Guidance for Clinical Use |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/089686080902900101 |journal=Peritoneal Dialysis International: Journal of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis |language=en |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=5–15 |doi=10.1177/089686080902900101 |issn=0896-8608|url-access=subscription }}</ref> An increase in [[capillary pressure]] in the abdominal organs can cause fluid to leave the [[Interstitium|interstitial space]] and enter the peritoneal cavity, resulting in a condition called [[ascites]]. When [[cerebrospinal fluid]] overaccumulates, such as in [[hydrocephalus]], the fluid is commonly diverted intentionally to the peritoneal cavity using a surgically placed [[cerebral shunt]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Adzick|first=Scott |author2=Thom, Spong |author3=Brock, Burrows|title=A Randomized Trial of Prenatal versus Postnatal Repair of Myelomeningocele|journal=The New England Journal of Medicine|date=17 March 2011|volume=364|issue=11|pages=993–1004|doi=10.1056/nejmoa1014379|display-authors=etal|pmid=21306277|pmc=3770179}}</ref> Sampling of body fluid from the peritoneal cavity is referred to as [[peritoneocentesis]].

== See also ==
* [[Lesser sac]]
* [[Greater sac]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{NormanAnatomy|peritoneum}}

{{Abdominopelvic cavity}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Abdomen]]