omentum

anatomy

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

The omentum is a fold of peritoneum, a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and supports internal organs. It hangs in front of the stomach and intestine and contains blood vessels, nerves, lymph nodes, fat, and connective tissue.12

The omentum's functions include preventing friction between organs by secreting lubricating serum, helping to hold organs in place, and acting as a barrier against infection. It is thinner than the mesentery, another peritoneal fold, and has a lacy appearance with a significant amount of fat that helps keep organs warm. There are two omenta: the greater omentum, which hangs like an apron from the large intestine, and the lesser omentum, which is smaller and extends between the stomach and the liver.13

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peritoneum
…are of primary importance: the omentum, which hangs in front of the stomach and intestine; and the mesentery, which attaches the small intestine and much of the large intestine to the posterior abdominal cavity.
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…are of primary importance: the omentum, which hangs in front of the stomach and intestine; and the mesentery, which attaches the small intestine and much of the large intestine to the posterior abdominal cavity.
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appendix
The omentum, a sheet of fatty tissue, often wraps itself around the inflamed appendix, and an exudate that normally develops in the areas of inflammation behaves like glue and seals off the appendix from the surrounding peritoneal cavity.
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The omentum, a sheet of fatty tissue, often wraps itself around the inflamed appendix, and an exudate that normally develops in the areas of inflammation behaves like glue and seals off the appendix from the surrounding peritoneal cavity.
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abdominal cavity
The omenta are folds of peritoneum enclosing nerves, blood vessels, lymph channels, and fatty and connective tissue. There are two omenta: the greater omentum hangs down from the transverse colon of the large intestine like an apron; the lesser omentum is much smaller and extends between…
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The omenta are folds of peritoneum enclosing nerves, blood vessels, lymph channels, and fatty and connective tissue. There are two omenta: the greater omentum hangs down from the transverse colon of the large intestine like an apron; the lesser omentum is much smaller and extends between…
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