Lesser Omentum Flashcards

Study the lesser omentum, its peritoneal attachments, hepatogastric and hepatoduodenal ligaments, vascular contents, and surgical anatomy.

Card 1 of 28Question

What is the lesser omentum?

A double-layered peritoneal fold connecting the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach and proximal duodenum.

In This Section

1. What is the lesser omentum?

A double-layered peritoneal fold connecting the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach and proximal duodenum.

2. From which embryological structure does the lesser omentum develop?

The ventral mesogastrium.

3. What are the two main subdivisions of the lesser omentum?

The hepatogastric ligament and hepatoduodenal ligament.

4. What is the hepatogastric ligament?

The thin portion of the lesser omentum connecting the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach.

5. What is the hepatoduodenal ligament?

The thicker right portion of the lesser omentum connecting the liver to the proximal duodenum.

6. Which part of the duodenum receives the attachment of the lesser omentum?

The proximal part of the superior, or first, portion of the duodenum.

7. Where does the lesser omentum attach to the liver?

Along the porta hepatis and the fissure for the ligamentum venosum.

8. How does the lesser omentum relate to the lesser sac?

It forms part of the anterior wall of the lesser sac, also called the omental bursa.

9. Which part of the lesser omentum forms the anterior boundary of the epiploic foramen?

The free right border of the hepatoduodenal ligament.

10. What is the epiploic foramen?

The opening connecting the greater peritoneal sac with the lesser sac.

11. What forms the posterior boundary of the epiploic foramen?

The inferior vena cava, covered by peritoneum.

12. What forms the superior boundary of the epiploic foramen?

The caudate lobe of the liver.

13. What forms the inferior boundary of the epiploic foramen?

The superior part of the duodenum.

14. Which three major structures form the portal triad within the hepatoduodenal ligament?

The portal vein, proper hepatic artery, and extrahepatic bile duct.

15. Which portal triad structure lies most posteriorly within the hepatoduodenal ligament?

The hepatic portal vein.

16. Which portal triad structure usually lies anteriorly and to the left?

The proper hepatic artery.

17. Which portal triad structure usually lies anteriorly and to the right?

The extrahepatic bile duct.

18. Which arteries run within the hepatogastric ligament near the lesser curvature?

The right and left gastric arteries.

19. Which veins accompany the gastric arteries within the lesser omentum?

The right and left gastric veins, which drain into the portal venous system.

20. Which other structures accompany the vessels within the lesser omentum?

Lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, autonomic nerves, and connective tissue.

21. Which lymph nodes are associated with the hepatogastric ligament?

The gastric lymph nodes along the lesser curvature.

22. Which parasympathetic nerve branches may travel within the hepatogastric ligament?

Branches of the anterior and posterior vagal trunks.

23. How does the hepatogastric ligament differ from the hepatoduodenal ligament in its contents?

The hepatogastric ligament contains gastric vessels, while the hepatoduodenal ligament contains the portal triad.

24. What is the Pringle maneuver?

Temporary compression of the hepatoduodenal ligament to control hepatic arterial and portal venous inflow.

25. Which major blood vessel is not directly occluded by the Pringle maneuver?

The inferior vena cava.

26. Why may the hepatogastric ligament be divided during upper abdominal surgery?

To gain access to the lesser sac and expose structures behind the stomach.

27. What anatomical variation must be considered when dividing the hepatogastric ligament?

An accessory or replaced left hepatic artery may arise from the left gastric artery and traverse the ligament.

28. How does the lesser omentum differ embryologically from the greater omentum?

The lesser omentum develops from the ventral mesogastrium, while the greater omentum develops from the dorsal mesogastrium.