Anatomy Atlases: Atlas of Human Anatomy in Cross Section: Section 5. Lower Thorax (Lungs) and Abdomen

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Atlas of Human Anatomy in Cross Section: Section 5. Lower Thorax (Lungs) and Abdomen

Plate 5.11

Ronald A. Bergman, Ph.D., Adel K. Afifi, M.D., Jean J. Jew, M.D., and Paul C. Reimann, B.S.
Peer Review Status: Externally Peer Reviewed

Upper Left Quadrant	Lower Left Quadrant	Lower Right Quadrant	Upper Right Quadrant
1. Transverse mesocolon 2. Duodenum, horizontal part 3. Transverse colon 4. Middle colic a. 5. Middle colic v. 6. Gallbladder 7. Transversus abdominis m. 8. Internal oblique m. 9. External oblique m. 10. Duodenal-jejunal flexure 11. Rib 10 12. Inferior vena cava, termination left renal v.	13. Liver, right lobe 14. Rib 11 15. Ascending colon 16. Rib 12 17. Perirenal fat, right kidney lower pole 18. Pararenal fat 19. Lumbar or "quadratus" fascia 20. Thoracolumbar fascia, anterior layer 21. Ureter 22. Retroaortic left renal vein (var.) 23. Iliocostalis m. 24. Longissimus m. 25. Spinal nerve, L2, and dorsal root ganglion 26. Cauda equina 27. Spinalis m. and multifidus m.	28. Spinous process, L2 29. Interspinalis m. 30. Multifidus m. 31. Semispinalis. 32. Rotatores m. 33. Fat in intervertebral foramen, L2 L3 34. Dorsal root ganglion and disk, L2, and nucleus pulposus 35. Intertransversarium m. and anterior longitudinal ligament 36. Psoas major m. 37. Quadratus lumborum m. 38. Renal pelvis and disk, L2, and anulus fibrosus 39. Latissimus dorsi m. 40. Serratus posterior inferior m. 41. Left kidney 42. Renal pelvis 43. Descending colon 44. Mesenteric Iymph nodes 45. Inferior mesenteric v. 46. External oblique m.	47. Left gonadal a. and v. 48. Intercostal mm. 49. Lymph node and abdominal aorta 50. Transversus abdominis m. 51. Aortic plexus of nerves 52. Jejunum 53. External oblique m. 54. Rectus abdominis m. 55. Transverse colon 56. Superior mesenteric a. 57. Linea alba

This section passes through the second lumbar intervertebral disk (between vertebrae L2 and L3). It grazes the inferior edge of the second lumbar vertebra and passes through the intervertebral foramina (25, 33), which contain dorsal root ganglia and some perineural fat. The spinous process of L2 (28) is also present. The section cuts ribs 12 (16), 11 (14), and 10 (11). Ribs make their last appearance in this section.

On the left side, the transverse (55) and descending colon (43) cover loops of jejunum (52). On the posterior abdominal wall, the left renal pelvis (42) and kidney (41) are seen. Among the muscles associated with the posterior abdominal wall the following may be seen: psoas major (36), quadratus lumborum (37), latissimus dorsi (39), serratus posterior inferior (40), and external oblique (46).

The middle of the section contains the transverse colon (55), the duodenal jejunal flexure (10), the horizontal part of the duodenum (2), the inferior vena cave (12), and the abdominal aorta (49). The retroaortic left renal vein (22) can be seen joining the inferior vena cave (12). Around the abdominal aorta, the aortic plexus of nerves (51) can be identified. The small intertransversarius muscle (35) can be identified below the psoas major muscle (36).

On the right side, the gallbladder (6) and right lobe of the liver can be seen. The gallbladder makes its last appearance in this section. Note the ascending colon (15), the lower pole of the right kidney (17), the capsular perirenal fat (17), and the pararenal fat (18) which is adjacent to, but outside, the renal fascia that forms the renal capsule.

The transversospinalis muscles are differentiated and well seen in this cut. They include the rotatores (32), semispinalis (31), multifidus (27, 30), and interspinalis (29) muscles.

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