Chapter 24, Problem 24.1.9AYLO

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

The meaning of intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal organs and which digestive organs are in each class.

Introduction:

The stomach and intestine undergo tedious contractions, so they need freedom to move in the abdominal cavity. They are not tightly bound to the abdominal wall, but over most of their length, they are loosely suspended from it by connective tissue sheets called mesenteries. The mesenteries hold the abdominal viscera in their proper relationship to each other and prevent the small intestine from becoming twisted and tangled by changes in the body position and contractions. And they provide passage for the blood vessels and nerves that supply digestive tract.