human anatomy The human body is the structure of a human being. It is composed of many different types of cells that together create tissues and subsequently organ systems. They ensure homeostasis and the viability of the human body. It comprises a he ...

, the omental foramen (epiploic foramen, foramen of Winslow after the anatomist

Jacob B. Winslow Jacob Benignus Winsløw, also known as Jacques-Bénigne Winslow (17 April 1669 – 3 April 1760), was a Danish-born French anatomist. Life Winsløw was born in Odense, Denmark. Later he became a pupil and successor of Guichard Joseph Duverney, ...

, or uncommonly aditus; la, Foramen epiploicum), is the passage of communication, or foramen, between the

greater sac In human anatomy, the greater sac, also known as the general cavity (of the abdomen) or peritoneum of the peritoneal cavity proper, is the cavity in the abdomen that is inside the peritoneum but outside the lesser sac. It is connected with the ...

(general cavity (of the abdomen)), and the

lesser sac The lesser sac, also known as the omental bursa, is a part of the peritoneal cavity that is formed by the lesser and greater omentum. Usually found in mammals, it is connected with the greater sac via the omental foramen or ''Foramen of Winslow' ...

Borders

It has the following borders: * ''anterior'': the free border of the

lesser omentum The lesser omentum (small omentum or gastrohepatic omentum) is the double layer of peritoneum that extends from the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach, and to the first part of the duodenum. The lesser omentum is usually divided into th ...

, known as the

hepatoduodenal ligament The hepatoduodenal ligament is the portion of the lesser omentum extending between the porta hepatis of the liver and the superior part of the duodenum. Running inside it are the following structures collectively known as the portal triad: * hep ...

. This has two layers and within these layers are the

common bile duct The common bile duct, sometimes abbreviated as CBD, is a duct in the gastrointestinal tract of organisms that have a gallbladder. It is formed by the confluence of the common hepatic duct and cystic duct and terminates by uniting with pancreati ...

hepatic artery The common hepatic artery is a short blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the liver, pylorus of the stomach, duodenum, pancreas, and gallbladder. It arises from the celiac artery and has the following branches: Additional images ...

, and

hepatic portal vein The portal vein or hepatic portal vein (HPV) is a blood vessel that carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen to the liver. This blood contains nutrients and toxins extracted from digested contents. Approxima ...

. * ''posterior'': the

peritoneum The peritoneum is the serous membrane forming the lining of the abdominal cavity or coelom in amniotes and some invertebrates, such as annelids. It covers most of the intra-abdominal (or coelomic) organs, and is composed of a layer of mesoth ...

covering the

inferior vena cava The inferior vena cava is a large vein that carries the deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body into the right atrium of the heart. It is formed by the joining of the right and the left common iliac veins, usually at the level of the ...

* ''superior'': the peritoneum covering the

caudate lobe In human anatomy, the liver is divided grossly into four parts or lobes: the right lobe, the left lobe, the caudate lobe, and the quadrate lobe. Seen from the front – the diaphragmatic surface - the liver is divided into two lobes: the right ...

of the

liver The liver is a major Organ (anatomy), organ only found in vertebrates which performs many essential biological functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the Protein biosynthesis, synthesis of proteins and biochemicals necessary for ...

* ''inferior'': the peritoneum covering the commencement of the

duodenum The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear, and the terms anterior intestine or proximal intestine m ...

and the

, the latter passing forward below the foramen before ascending between the two layers of the lesser omentum. * ''left lateral'':

gastrosplenic ligament The gastrosplenic ligament (also known as the ''ligamentum gastrosplenicum'' or gastrolienal ligament) is part of the greater omentum extending between the stomach and the spleen. It contains several blood vessels. Structure The gastrosplenic li ...

and

splenorenal ligament The greater omentum (also the great omentum, omentum majus, gastrocolic omentum, epiploon, or, especially in animals, caul) is a large apron-like fold of Peritoneum#Layers, visceral peritoneum that hangs down from the stomach. It extends from the ...

As the portal vein is the most posterior structure in the hepatoduodenal ligament, and the inferior vena cava lies under the posterior wall, the epiploic foramen can be remembered as lying between the two great veins of the abdomen.

Additional images

File:Gray1035.png , Vertical disposition of the

Main cavity In human anatomy, the greater sac, also known as the general cavity (of the abdomen) or peritoneum of the peritoneal cavity proper, is the cavity in the abdomen that is inside the peritoneum but outside the lesser sac. It is connected with the ...

, red;

omental bursa The lesser sac, also known as the omental bursa, is a part of the peritoneal cavity that is formed by the lesser and greater omentum. Usually found in mammals, it is connected with the greater sac via the omental foramen or ''Foramen of Winsl ...

, blue. (Bristle in omental foramen labeled at upper left.) File:Gray1040.png, Diagram to show the lines along which the peritoneum leaves the wall of the abdomen to invest the viscera. File:Slide5ddd.JPG, Epiploic foramen

References

External links

* * – "Abdominal Cavity: The Omental Foramen" * * * * * () {{Authority control General surgery Abdomen Medical mnemonics

Borders

Additional images

See also

References

External links