A-Z of Family Health 1. (töredék) [antikvár]

ABDOMEN Abdomen The region of the body between the chest and the pelvis. The abdominal cavity is bounded by the ribs and diaphragm above, and by the pelvis below, with the spiné and abdominal muscles forming the back, side, and front walls. The abdominal cavity contains the liver, stomach, intestines, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys (see box, right). In the lower abdomen, enclosed by the pelvis, are the bladder, rectum, and, in women, the uterus and ovaries. STRUCTURE The spiné, pelvis, and ribs provide attachments for the layers of muscle that make up the abdominal walls. There is a layer of fat between these muscles and the skin. The inner surface of the abdominal muscles is covered by a thin membrane, the peritoneum, which alsó covers the organs, such as the pancreas and kidneys, that are fixed to the back wall. Folds of peritoneum alsó cover the mobile organs, such as the stomach and intestines. Abdominal hysterectomy The surgical removal of the uterus (womb) through an incision in the abdomen (see hysterectomy). Abdominal pain Discomfort in the abdominal cavity. Symptoms (see box, opposite) accompanying abdominal pain may include belching, nausea, vomiting, rumbling and gurgling noises, and flatulence (wind). CAUSES Mild abdominal pain is common and is often due to excessive intake of alcohol, eating unwisely, or an attack of diarrhoea. Pain in the lower abdomen is common during menstruation but may occasionally be due to a gynaecological disorder such as endometríosis (in which fragments of uterine lining are present in abnormal sites within the abdomen). Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) is another common cause of pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen. Bladder distension due to urinary obstruction may alsó cause abdominal pain. Abdominal colic is the term used for pain that occurs every few minutes as one of the internál organs goes into muscular spasm. Colic is an attempt by the body to overcome an obstruction such as a stone or an area of inflammation. The attacks may become more severe and may be associated with vomiting (see acute abdomen). A peptic u/cer, which is associated with an increase in the amount of acid förmed in the stomach, often produces recurrent gnawing pain. Other possible causes of abdominal pain are infection, such as pyelonephritis (infection of the kidneys) and pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the internál female reproductive organs), and ischaemia (a lack of blood supply), as occurs when a volvulus (twisting of the intestíne) obstructs blood vessels. Tumours YOUR BODY: ABDOMEN The abdominal cavity is shown here with the liver removed in order to show the oesophagus. This tűbe conveys food from the throat to the stomach, passing through the diaphragm that separates the abdomen from the thorax. The aorta, the body's main blood vessel, terminates in the lower part of the abdomen, where it divides into two arteries that supply blood to the pelvic region and legs. Oesophagus Left gastric artery Coeliac trunk Mesentery Jejunum Ascending colon Omental appendices Caecum Mesenteric vessels Appendix Ileum Common hepatic artery Right gastric artery Right inferior phrenic artery Inferior vena Proper hepatic artery Duodenum Diaphragm Right colic (hepatic) flexure Stomach Splenic artery Spleen Left colic (splenic) flexure Taenia coli Taenia coli Transverse colon Descending colon Haustrum