| Lesser sac | |
|---|---|
) The lesser sac (omental bursa) shown in blue, and the greater sac (general cavity) shown in red. | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | bursa omentalis |
| TA98 | A10.1.02.402 |
| TA2 | 3703 |
| FMA | 19800 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The lesser sac, also known as the omental bursa, is the cavity in the abdomen 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. In mammals, it is common for the lesser sac to contain considerable amounts of fat..
Anatomic margins
- Anterior margin
- listed from the top-to-bottom margin: Quadrate lobe of the liver, lesser omentum, stomach, gastrocolic ligament
- Lateral margin
- listed from the most anterior to the most posterior margin: Gastrosplenic ligament, spleen, phrenicosplenic ligament
- Posterior margin
- Left kidney and adrenal gland, pancreas
- Inferior margin
- Greater omentum
If any of the marginal structures rupture their contents could leak into the lesser sac. If the stomach were to rupture on its anterior side though the leak would collect in the greater sac.
The lesser sac is formed during embryogenesis from an infolding of the greater omentum. The open end of the infolding, known as the omental foramen is usually close to the stomach.
Additional images
Schematic figure of the bursa omentalis, etc. Human embryo of eight weeks.
Diagrams to illustrate the development of the greater omentum and transverse mesocolon.
Omental bursa
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See also
- Terms for anatomical location
References
- ^ Shahani RB, Bijlani RS, Dalvi AN, Shah HK, Samsi AB (1994). "Massive upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to direct visceral erosion of splenic artery aneurysm". J Postgrad Med. 40: 220–222.
External links
- "Lesser sac". Medcyclopaedia. GE. Archived from the original on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
- Anatomy photo:37:09-0100 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center – "Abdominal Cavity: The Lesser Peritoneal Sac"
- Anatomy image:8070 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center