Gastrocolic ligament
Encyclopedia
The gastrocolic ligament is a portion of the greater omentum
that stretches from the greater curvature of the stomach to the transverse colon
. It forms part of the anterior wall of the lesser sac
.
Dividing the gastrocolic ligament provides access to the anterior pancreas
and the posterior wall of the stomach
. This is commonly done for Whipple procedures, distal pancreatectomy, some forms of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and exploratory laparotomy
.
Greater omentum
The greater omentum is a large fold of parietal peritoneum that hangs down from the stomach...
that stretches from the greater curvature of the stomach to the transverse colon
Transverse colon
The transverse colon, the longest and most movable part of the colon, passes with a downward convexity from the right hypochondrium region across the abdomen, opposite the confines of the epigastric and umbilical zones, into the left hypochondrium region, where it curves sharply on itself beneath...
. It forms part of the anterior wall of the lesser sac
Lesser sac
The lesser sac, also known as the omental bursa, is the cavity in the abdomen that is formed by the lesser and greater omentum. Usually found in mammals, it is connected with the greater sac via the epiploic foramen...
.
Dividing the gastrocolic ligament provides access to the anterior pancreas
Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist...
and the posterior wall of the stomach
Stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
. This is commonly done for Whipple procedures, distal pancreatectomy, some forms of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and exploratory laparotomy
Exploratory laparotomy
An exploratory laparotomy is the standard of care in various blunt and penetrating trauma situations in which there may be multiple life-threatening injuries, and in many diagnostic situations in which the operation is undertaken in search of a unifying cause for multiple signs and symptoms of...
.