Greater Sac Flashcards

Explore the greater sac, its abdominal compartments, peritoneal recesses, organ relationships, and clinical significance.

Card 1 of 25Question

What is the greater sac?

The larger compartment of the peritoneal cavity, extending throughout most of the abdomen and pelvis.

In This Section

1. What is the greater sac?

The larger compartment of the peritoneal cavity, extending throughout most of the abdomen and pelvis.

2. What are the two main compartments of the peritoneal cavity?

The greater sac and the lesser sac, also called the omental bursa.

3. Which opening connects the greater sac to the lesser sac?

The epiploic foramen, also called the foramen of Winslow.

4. Which peritoneal structure separates the greater sac from the lesser sac anteriorly?

The lesser omentum, which extends between the liver and the lesser curvature of the stomach and proximal duodenum.

5. What type of space is the greater sac under normal physiological conditions?

A potential space containing a small amount of lubricating serous fluid.

6. Which two layers of peritoneum bound the peritoneal cavity?

The parietal peritoneum and visceral peritoneum.

7. What anatomical landmark divides the greater sac into supracolic and infracolic compartments?

The transverse colon and its mesentery, the transverse mesocolon.

8. Where is the supracolic compartment of the greater sac located?

Superior to the transverse colon and transverse mesocolon.

9. Which major organs occupy the supracolic region?

The liver, stomach, and spleen.

10. Where is the infracolic compartment of the greater sac located?

Inferior to the transverse colon and transverse mesocolon.

11. Which major intestinal structures occupy the infracolic compartment?

Most of the jejunum and ileum, surrounded by portions of the large intestine.

12. What divides the infracolic compartment into right and left infracolic spaces?

The root of the small intestinal mesentery.

13. Where does the root of the small intestinal mesentery extend?

From the duodenojejunal flexure to the ileocecal junction.

14. Which peritoneal spaces lie lateral to the ascending and descending colon?

The right and left paracolic gutters.

15. Which paracolic gutter provides a relatively direct pathway between the pelvis and right subhepatic space?

The right paracolic gutter.

16. Which ligament limits superior fluid movement through the left paracolic gutter?

The phrenicocolic ligament.

17. What are the right and left subphrenic spaces?

Peritoneal spaces between the diaphragm and the superior surface of the liver.

18. Which peritoneal fold separates the right and left subphrenic spaces?

The falciform ligament of the liver.

19. Where is the hepatorenal recess located?

Between the visceral surface of the right lobe of the liver and the right kidney.

20. What is another name for the hepatorenal recess?

Morison's pouch.

21. Why is the hepatorenal recess clinically important?

It is a dependent site where free intraperitoneal fluid may accumulate in a supine patient.

22. Which pelvic peritoneal recess is the most dependent in an upright female?

The rectouterine pouch, also called the pouch of Douglas.

23. Which pelvic peritoneal recess is the most dependent in an upright male?

The rectovesical pouch.

24. How can infection or inflammatory fluid spread within the greater sac?

Along communicating peritoneal spaces, especially the paracolic gutters.

25. Which ultrasound examination commonly assesses free fluid within dependent regions of the greater sac after trauma?

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST).