• Describe the arrangement of the peritoneal cavity and "mesenteries"

the peritoneum is a massive serous membrane which spans across your entire abdominal cavity, it acts to protect internal organs, provide attachments and allow passages for nerves vessels etc. mesentery is a double layer of peritoneum, it acts to hold up organs in the abdominal cavity such as the colon

the greater omentum originates from dorsal mesentery = the stomach to the transverse colon. the greater omentum acts as the policeman of the abdomen, it moves to areas that may have pathology or disease to cover it eg appendicitis the greater omentum will move to cover it and try to decrease the severity of peritonitis if it was to occur due to appendix rupture.

the greater omentum comes from the greater curvature of the stomach

the lesser omentum originates from ventral mesentery = The lesser omentum attaches the stomach and the FIRST part of the duodenum to the liver. (think about what the guy on youtube said, when you pull them apart theres a mesentery) remember that the first part of the duodenum is in the peritoneal cavity whereas the rest of it is retroperitoneal

the lesser omentum comes from the lesser curvature of the stomach

something called mesentery proper is on the posterior aspect of the intestines it holds them all together

Sigmoid mesocolon = holds sigmoid together and to the wall

transverse mesocolon = same as above to the transverse colon

• State the function of the peritoneum

there are two layers of peritoneum