The peritoneum is the largest serous sac that lines the abdominal wall and covers the abdominal viscera. It has two layers - the visceral layer that covers organs and the parietal layer that lines the wall. The peritoneal cavity separates the visceral and parietal layers and is a potential space. The peritoneal sac is closed in males but open in females due to the uterine tubes. It has two parts - the greater sac that fills most of the abdominal cavity and the lesser sac behind the stomach. The peritoneum forms folds like ligaments, omenta and mesentery and potential spaces like the subphrenic spaces and paracolic gutters.

1. Abdominal RegionsAbdominal Regions
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3. PERITONEUMPERITONEUM
 The largest serous sac that linesThe largest serous sac that lines
abdominal wall and covers abdominalabdominal wall and covers abdominal
viscera. So it could be:viscera. So it could be:
• 1-1- Visceral layer:Visceral layer: cover organ.cover organ.
• 2-2- Parietal layer:Parietal layer: lines wall.lines wall.
• 3-3- Peritoneal fold:Peritoneal fold: becomes in contactbecomes in contact
other peritoneal layer.other peritoneal layer.
• 4-4- Peritoneal cavity:Peritoneal cavity: It separatesIt separates
visceral from parietal. It is potential space.visceral from parietal. It is potential space.
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4.  Sex differences:Sex differences:
- Peritoneal sac is a closed in male but inPeritoneal sac is a closed in male but in
females it is opened by uterine tubes.females it is opened by uterine tubes.
- Functions of peritoneum:Functions of peritoneum:
1- provides smooth surfaces for viscera to1- provides smooth surfaces for viscera to
avoid fricction.avoid fricction.
2- Protects against infection as it contains2- Protects against infection as it contains
antibodies.antibodies.
3- Allows rapid healing of abdominal wounds.3- Allows rapid healing of abdominal wounds.
4- Can localize infection (policman).4- Can localize infection (policman).
5- Storage of fat.5- Storage of fat. Dr. Sherif Fahmy

5. Parts of peritoneal sacParts of peritoneal sac
 It is divided into:It is divided into:
1-1- Greater sac:Greater sac: It is the partIt is the part
of peritoneal sac that fillsof peritoneal sac that fills
most of abdominal cavity.most of abdominal cavity.
2-2- Lesser sac:Lesser sac: It is the partIt is the part
of peritoneal sac that isof peritoneal sac that is
present behind stomach.present behind stomach.
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6. Greater SacGreater Sac
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11. Lesser SacLesser Sac
(Omental Bursa)(Omental Bursa)
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15. Boundaries of LesserBoundaries of Lesser
SacSac
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18. Recesses of LesserRecesses of Lesser
SacSac
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22. Applied AnatomyApplied Anatomy
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25. Peritoneal FoldsPeritoneal Folds
 1- Ligaments.1- Ligaments.
 2- Omenta (lesser & greater).2- Omenta (lesser & greater).
 3- Mesentery (folds of3- Mesentery (folds of
intestine).intestine).
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30. Subphrenic SpacesSubphrenic Spaces
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32. Paracolic GuttersParacolic Gutters
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35. Umbilical FoldsUmbilical Folds
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38. Peritoneal RecessesPeritoneal Recesses
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