Greater sac

Greater sac or general cavity of abdomen is a part of the human abdomen. It is the larger part of the peritoneal cavity, the space within the abdomen that is formed between the parietal peritoneum and the visceral peritoneum, the two membranes that form the peritoneum.

Etymology

The term "Greater sac" is derived from the Latin word "saccus" which means bag or sack. The term "peritoneal" is derived from the Greek words "peri", which means around, and "tonein", which means to stretch. Thus, the peritoneal cavity is a stretched space around the abdomen.

Anatomy

The greater sac is the main part of the peritoneal cavity, extending across the abdomen and pelvis. It is bounded by the transverse mesocolon and the mesentery of the small intestine on the front and back respectively. The greater sac communicates with the lesser sac via the epiploic foramen.

Related Terms

• Lesser sac: The smaller part of the peritoneal cavity, situated behind the stomach and lesser omentum.
• Omentum: A double layer of peritoneum that extends from the stomach to adjacent abdominal organs.
• Mesentery: A fold of the peritoneum that attaches the stomach, small intestine, pancreas, spleen, and other organs to the posterior wall of the abdomen.

See Also

• Peritoneum
• Abdomen
• Human anatomy

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