Editing Abdominal cavity (section)

==Structure==
[[File:Body Cavities Frontal view labeled.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The '''abdominal cavity''' is labeled '''3''' in this image, and together with the [[pelvic cavity]] ('''4''') it makes up the [[abdominopelvic cavity]] '''6'''.]]

===Organs===
Organs of the abdominal cavity include the [[stomach]], [[liver]], [[gallbladder]], [[spleen]], [[pancreas]], [[small intestine]], [[kidneys]], [[large intestine]], and [[adrenal gland]]s.<ref name=EB/>

===Peritoneum===
{{main|Peritoneum}}
The abdominal cavity is lined with a protective membrane termed the [[peritoneum]].   The inside wall is covered by the [[parietal peritoneum]]. The [[kidney]]s are located behind the peritoneum, in the [[retroperitoneum]], outside the abdominal cavity. The viscera are also covered by [[visceral peritoneum]].

Between the visceral and parietal peritoneum is the [[peritoneal cavity]], which is a potential space.<ref name=EB/> It contains a [[serous fluid]] called [[peritoneal fluid]] that allows motion. This motion is apparent of the [[gastrointestinal tract]]. The peritoneum, by virtue of its connection to the two (parietal and visceral) portions, gives support to the abdominal organs.

The peritoneum divides the cavity into numerous compartments. One of these the [[lesser sac]] is located behind the stomach and joins into the [[greater sac]] via the [[foramen of Winslow]].<ref name=EB/> Some of the organs are attached to the walls of the abdomen via folds of peritoneum and [[ligament]]s, such as the [[liver]] and others use broad areas of the peritoneum, such as the [[pancreas]]. The [[peritoneal ligament]]s are actually dense folds of the peritoneum that are used to connect viscera to viscera or viscera to the walls of the abdomen.<ref name=EB/> They are named in such a way as to show what they connect typically. For example, the [[gastrocolic ligament]] connects the [[stomach]] and [[colon (anatomy)|colon]] and the [[splenocolic ligament]] connects the [[spleen]] and the colon, or sometimes by their shape as the [[round ligament (disambiguation)|round ligament]] or [[Triangular ligament (disambiguation)|triangular ligament]].<ref name=EB/>

===Mesentery===
[[mesentery|Mesenteries]] are folds of peritoneum that are attached to the walls of the abdomen and enclose viscera completely. They are supplied with plentiful amounts of [[blood]]. The three most important mesenteries are mesentery for the [[small intestine]], the [[transverse mesocolon]], which attaches the back portion of the colon to the abdominal wall, and the [[sigmoid mesocolon]] which enfolds the [[sigmoid colon]].<ref name=EB/>

===Omenta===
The [[omentum (disambiguation)|omentum]] are specialized folds of peritoneum that enclose [[nerve]]s, [[blood vessel]]s, [[lymph channel]]s, fatty tissue, and connective tissue. There are two omenta. First, is the [[greater omentum]] that hangs off of the [[transverse colon]] and greater curvature of the stomach. The other is the [[lesser omentum]] that extends between the [[stomach]] and the [[liver]].<ref name=EB/>