RT Book, Section
A1 Brady, Matthew
A1 Mahoney, Eric
A2 Doherty, Gerard M.
SR Print(0)
ID 1105488250
T1 Peritoneal Cavity
T2 CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery, 14e
YR 2015
FD 2015
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071792110
LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1105488250
RD 2024/04/23
AB The  peritoneum  is  the  thin  serous  membrane  that  lines  the  peritoneal  cavity.  It  is  the  largest  serous  surface  layer  in  the  human  body  and  its  surface  area  is  similar  to  the  skin.  The  structure  is  made  up  of  a  single,  flat,  layer  of  mesothelial  cells,  rich  in  microvilli.  Beneath  the  mesothelium  are  a  basement  membrane  and  a  loose  collagen  network  containing  vascularized  connective  tissue  with  scattered  fibroblasts  and  macrophages.  Normally  there  is  between  5  and  20  mL  of  free  peritoneal  fluid,  this  can  vary  in  women,  peaking  after  ovulation.  Normal  peritoneal  fluid  has  a  specific  gravity  less  than  1.016,  protein  concentration  less  than  3g/dL,  pH  between  7.5  and  8,  and  a  white  blood  cell  count  less  than  3000/μL.  The  peritoneum  is  divided  anatomically  into  parietal  and  visceral  components.  The  parietal  peritoneum  underlies  the  anterior,  later,  and  posterior  abdominal  walls  as  well  as  the  undersurface  of  the  diaphragm  and  pelvic  basin.  The  visceral  peritoneum  is  reflected  over  the  viscera  within  the  abdominal  cavity.