Table of Contents
What is the posterior parietal peritoneum?
The parietal peritoneum refers to the outer layer of the peritoneum, which covers the abdomen and pelvic walls as well as the diaphragm.
What is the function of the parietal peritoneum?
It pads and insulates your organs, helps hold them in place and secretes a lubricating fluid to reduce friction when they rub against each other. Your parietal peritoneum lines your abdominal and pelvic walls and your visceral peritoneum wraps around your organs. Your peritoneal cavity is the space in between.
What is parietal pain?
Parietal pain is caused by irritation of the peritoneal lining that surrounds the abdominal cavity. Patients with this type of pain will usually present in a guarding position and have shallow respirations in order to minimize tension on the membrane.
What is the nerve supply of the parietal peritoneum?
The parietal peritoneum (green) is innervated by somatic and visceral afferent nerves and receives sensitive branches from the lower intercostal nerves and from the upper lumbar nerves. The diaphragm is innervated by the phrenic nerves (center) and by the lower intercostal nerves (periphery).
What are the 2 types of peritoneum?
The peritoneum is comprised of 2 layers: the superficial parietal layer and the deep visceral layer.
In what position might a patient with parietal pain be found?
The pain is usually unilateral (on one side) because the parietal peritoneum is innervated only from one side of the nervous system. Parietal pain is normally described as sharp, intense and constant. These patients usually lie very still with the legs drawn up toward the chest in what appears to be a fetal position.
What does parietal mean in medical terms?
Medical Definition of parietal (Entry 1 of 2) 1 : of or relating to the walls of a part or cavity — compare visceral. 2 : of, relating to, or located in the upper posterior part of the head specifically : relating to the parietal bones.
Why parietal peritoneum is pain sensitive?
The myelinated fibers can penetrate the PP to reach the peritoneal cavity, where they lose their myelin sheath and are exposed to somatic and nociceptive stimuli. PP is sensitive to pain, pressure, touch, friction, cutting and temperature. Noxious stimuli are perceived as a localized, sharp pain.
Why is the parietal layer sensitive to pain?
It receives the same somatic nerve supply as the region of the abdominal wall that it lines; therefore, pain from the parietal peritoneum is well localised. Parietal peritoneum is sensitive to pressure, pain, laceration and temperature.