Serous membranes
Fold
A connecting peritoneum between two visceral organs
Falciform ligament
A fold of connecting peritoneum extending from the liver tot he ventral abdominal wall as far caudally as the umbilicus. In young animals the round ligament of the liver, the remnant of the fetal umbilical vein, is found in the free edge of the falciform ligament.
Serous membrane or Serosa
A thin continuous membrane lining the closed cavity of the body and covering the cavity's organs. The serosa consists of a layer of mesothelium backed by connective tissue. The serosa secretes a lubricating fluid, allowing movement of the organs without friction. The serous membranes of the abdominal and thoracic cavities are the peritoneum and pleura respectively.
Ligaments
Connecting peritoneum between visceral peritoneum surrounding some organs and parietal peritoneum, or between visceral peritoneum of two organs.
Pouches of the peritoneal cavity
Formed by the caudal reflection of the peritoneum between organs in the pelvic cavity.
Visceral serosa
Invests the organs within a cavity
Perietal serosa
Lines a cavity wall, intimately
Connecting peritoneum
The double-layered serosa connecting parietal and visceral peritoneum, or between visceral peritoneum. It includes the mesenteries, omentum, ligaments and folds.
Pararectal fossa
The part of the rectogenital pouch on either side of the rectum.
Peritoneal cavity
The potential space between the parietal and visceral peritoneum. This potential cavity contains no organs, only a small amount of lubricating fluid. Entirely closed in the male, it is open in the female at the abdominal end of the oviduct. This opening leads to the outside of the body cavity through the urogenital tract. The ovarian bursa and omental bursa are subdivisions of the peritoneal cavity. The vaginal cavity of the spermatic cord is a diverticulum of the peritoneal cavity.
Rectogenital pouch
The reflection of the peritoneal cavity between the rectum and the reproductive organs.
Vesicogenital pouch
The reflection of the peritoneal cavity between the urinary bladder and the internal genitalia.
Vesicopubic pouch
The reflection of the peritoneal cavity between the ventral wall of the pelvic cavity and the urinary bladder.
Visceral peritoneum
The serosa covering the organs of the abdominal and pelvic cavities.
Peritoneum
The serosa lining the abdomen and covering its organs. Its consists of parietal ad visceral peritoneum that are continuous at folds of connecting peritoneum.
Parietal peritoneum
The serosa lining the inner wall of the abdominal, pelvic and scrotal cavities.
Retroperitoneal
The term used for a structure between the peritoneum and cavity wall, thus having no connecting peritoneum. It also applies to the portion of the pelvic organs not covered by peritoneum.
Connecting serosa
The two layers of serosa uniting parietal and visceral serosal layers or two visceral serosal layers.
