MBBS · Human Anatomy

Abdomen

The abdomen contains gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, urinary and vascular structures organized by the peritoneum, mesenteries and retroperitoneal spaces.

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Abdomen — learning map

Original conceptual SVG · scalable
LABELED RELATIONSHIP MAP · SCHEMATIC, NOT TO SCALEPeritoneumparietal and visceralGut and accessory organsdigestion and processingRetroperitoneumposterior relationshipsVascular patternsunpaired foregut-midgut-hindgutAbdomenKEY RELATIONSHIPS

Original schematic relationship map for this topic; relationships are organized for study, not intended as an anatomical depiction or a diagnostic algorithm.

Concept 01

Peritoneum

Parietal peritoneum lines the abdominal wall; visceral peritoneum covers many organs. Mesenteries convey vessels, nerves and lymphatics to attached viscera.

Concept 02

Gut and accessory organs

Stomach, small and large bowel process food and move contents; liver, gallbladder and pancreas contribute bile, metabolic processing and digestive secretions.

Concept 03

Retroperitoneum

Kidneys, ureters, aorta and inferior vena cava occupy retroperitoneal positions; only parts of some GI organs are secondarily retroperitoneal.

Concept 04

Vascular patterns

Celiac trunk, superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric arteries predominantly supply foregut, midgut and hindgut derivatives, with collateral variation.

Education / safety note: Surface quadrants help describe symptoms but do not establish the affected organ without clinical assessment.

Reference and next reading

Explore the original curriculum and publisher-hosted resources for full-depth reading; this note is an original schematic introduction, not an exhaustive chapter.

Official / publisher source: NMC official CBME Curriculum 2024 and current regulations index ↗Official / publisher source: NCBI Bookshelf ↗Official / publisher source: PubMed ↗