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The upper portion is the abdominal cavity, and it contains the stomach, liver, pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, kidneys, small intestine, and most of the large intestine. The lower portion is the pelvic cavity, and it contains the urinary bladder, the rest of the large intestine (the lower portion), and the internal reproductive organs. [2] [3]
The coordinated contractions of these layers is called peristalsis and propels the food through the tract. Food in the GI tract is called a bolus (ball of food) from the mouth down to the stomach. After the stomach, the food is partially digested and semi-liquid, and is referred to as chyme.
The kidneys are located behind the peritoneum, in the retroperitoneum, outside the abdominal cavity. The viscera are also covered by visceral peritoneum. Between the visceral and parietal peritoneum is the peritoneal cavity, which is a potential space. [1] It contains a serous fluid called peritoneal fluid that allows motion.
As an embryo develops, the various abdominal organs grow into the abdominal cavity from structures in the abdominal wall. In this process they become enveloped in a layer of peritoneum. The growing organs "take their blood vessels with them" from the abdominal wall, and these blood vessels become covered by peritoneum, forming a mesentery. [6]
Quadrants of the abdomen Diagram showing which organs (or parts of organs) are in each quadrant of the abdomen. The left lower quadrant (LLQ) of the human abdomen is the area left of the midline and below the umbilicus. The LLQ includes the left iliac fossa and half of the left flank region. The equivalent term for animals is left posterior ...
The lesser pelvis contains the pelvic colon, rectum, bladder, and some of the sex organs. The rectum is at the back, in the curve of the sacrum and coccyx; the bladder is in front, behind the pubic symphysis. In females, the uterus and vagina occupy the interval between these viscera. [1]
Visceral and viscus (from Latin viscera 'internal organs'): associated with organs within the body's cavities and pertaining to the innermost layer. [57] For example, the stomach is covered with a lining called the visceral peritoneum, as opposed to the parietal peritoneum. Viscus can also be used to mean "organ". [57]
The hollow organs of the abdomen are the stomach, intestines, gallbladder, bladder, and rectum. [6] In the thoracic cavity, the heart is a hollow, muscular organ. [7] Splanchnology is the study of the viscera. [8] The term "visceral" is contrasted with the term "parietal", meaning "of or relating to the wall of a body part, organ or cavity". [9]