Greater omentum

Greater omentum is a large apron-like fold of visceral peritoneum that hangs down from the stomach. It extends from the greater curvature of the stomach, passing in front of the small intestines and doubles back to ascend to the transverse colon before reaching to the posterior abdominal wall. The greater omentum is larger and fattier than its counterpart, the lesser omentum. It stores fat deposits and contains many lymph nodes.

Structure

The greater omentum is formed by a double layer of peritoneum. It consists of four layers, made by a double fold of the dorsal mesogastrium. The layers are fused, and the anterior two layers ascend to the greater curvature of the stomach and the beginning of the duodenum. The posterior two layers pass from the front of the transverse colon to its posterior aspect, where they separate and enclose the pancreas before reaching the posterior abdominal wall.

Function

The greater omentum plays several important roles in the body. It serves as an insulator and cushion to protect the abdominal organs. It also has immunological functions, as it contains milky spots of macrophage collections which can identify and combat foreign substances in the abdominal cavity. Additionally, the greater omentum can adhere to areas of inflammation or infection, walling off the infected area to prevent the spread of infection.

Clinical significance

In some cases, the greater omentum can become twisted, leading to a condition known as omentum torsion. This can cause severe abdominal pain and requires surgical intervention. The greater omentum can also be involved in various pathologies, such as omentum cancer, omentum cyst, and omentum infarction.

See also

• Lesser omentum
• Peritoneum
• Stomach
• Omentum torsion
• Omentum cancer
• Omentum cyst
• Omentum infarction

References

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