Objectives

Anterior Abdominal Wall and Inguinal region

- Learn the overview of abdominal walls, cavities, regions and planes.
- Identify different aspects of anterolateral abdominal wall including: fascia, muscles,
internal surface, surface anatomy, nerves, and vessels.
- In relation to direct and indirect inguinal hernias, demonstrate the anatomy of the
attachments of the inguinal ligament, the anatomy of the superficial and deep inguinal 5
rings and how the anterior abdominal wall muscles form the inguinal canal.
- Describe the contents of the inguinal canal in both males and females.
- Understand the functions of scrotum, spermatic cord, and testes.
Peritoneum, Omentum, Epiploic spaces, ligaments
- Describe the organization of the parietal and visceral peritoneum, its lesser and greater
sacs, mesenteries and peritoneal ligaments.
- Understand the peritoneal formations and folds.
- Describe the omentum and its parts.
- Know and identity the subdivisions of the peritoneal cavity.
- Understand the epiploic foramen.
Abdominal viscera: Esophagus, stomach
- Comprehend the overview of abdominal viscera and digestive tract.
- Identify and describe the abdominal portion of esophagus.
- Note the importance of each component of the esophagus.
- Describe the functional anatomy of the stomach, its position, portions, sphincters, blood
and nerve supply and key relations to other abdominal organs.
- Understand the relations of the stomach.
- Learn the arterial supply to the esophagus and the stomach.
Small Intestine, large intestine, spleen
- Describe the regions and functions of the small intestine, including the anatomy of
duodenum, jejunum and ileum.
- Describe the regions and functions of the large intestine, including the anatomy of the
colon, cecum and appendix.
- Identify the arterial supply to the intestines.
- Describe arterial and venous supply to the spleen
- Describe the position (in relation to the ribs) and form of the spleen in relation to its
palpation through the abdominal wall. Explain the significance of its anatomical
relationships in relation to trauma to the abdomen.
- Describe the pattern of parasympathetic innervation of the GI tract.
Liver, Gall Bladder, Pancreas
- Describe the locations and functions of liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
- Know the anatomical lobes, functional subdivision, and blood vessels of the liver.
- Describe the relationships of livers portal venous, hepatic arterial, and hepatic venous
circulation.
- Identify the structures passing into and out of the porta hepatis and some of the most
common variations on this pattern.
- Describe the peritoneal relationships of the liver and gallbladder.
- Understand the functions of biliary ducts.
Retroperitoneum, Kidneys, Adrenals
- Distinguish between intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal.
- Describe the position and form of the kidneys and ureters. Demonstrate their
relationships to other abdominal and pelvic structures.
- Describe the relations of the suprarenal (adrenal) glands, their nerve and blood supply.
- Demonstrate the relationships of the kidneys and suprarenal glands to adipose and fascial
coverings, lower ribs and other abdominal organs.
- Describe the basic internal gross anatomy of the kidney.
- Define the blood supply and drainage of the kidneys and suprarenal glands.
- Identify the blood vessels of suprearenal glands, kidneys and superior part of ureters.
- Identify the nerves of the kidneys, ureters and suprarenal glands.
Posterior Abdominal Wall, Muscles, Neurovascular structures
- Describe the anatomy, innervation and functions of the muscles of the posterior
abdominal walls.
- Understand lymphatic drainage of posterior abdominal wall and lymphatic trunks of
abdomen.
- Identify the diaphragm and its neurovascular structures including vessels and nerves,
superior surface and inferior surface.
- Describe diaphragmatic apertures.
Bony landmarks of pelvis and neurovascular structures
- Describe bones and features of pelvic girdle.
- Understand the functions and locations of joints and ligaments of the pelvis.
- Understand the orientation of pelvic girdle.
- Distinguish and describe the different characteristics of bony pelvis compartments in
males and females.
- Identify the walls and floor of the pelvic cavity. Know its muscles, attachments,
innervations and main actions.
- Describe the neurovascular structures of the pelvis.
- Describe pelvic nerves, arteries, veins and lymph nodes.
Pelvic muscles
- Identify the pelvic diaphragm and differentiate its components.
- Trace the branching pattern of the internal iliac vessels in each sex, identifying branches
by their relationships to pelvic organs or wall structures.
- Demonstrate the formation of the sacral plexus, its relationship to the piriformis muscle
and gluteal vessels, and its pelvic splanchnic nerves.
- Identify and describe the inferior hypogastric (pelvic) plexus and its connections to the
superior hypogastric plexus via the hypogastric nerves.
- Identify and describe the sacral sympathetic trunks and the sacral sympathetic nerves.
- Trace the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve supply to any pelvic organ, listing the
location of the preganglionic cell body, the course of preganglionic fibers, the location of
the postganglionic cell body, and the course of postganglionic fibers.
Perineum and triangles
- Identify the skeletal and ligamentous boundaries of the perineum
- Describe the fasciae and puches of the urogenital triangles.
- Describe the features of anal triangle.
- Describe the position and boundaries of the ischioanal fossa.
- Describe the structure, contents, and course of the pudendal canal.
- Identify the branching pattern of the internal pudendal vessels and the pudendal nerve.
- Differentiate between the internal and external anal sphincters in structure and function.
- Differentiate between male and female urethrae.
Male sexual organs
- Describe the male perineum and structure of penis.
- Describe the anatomy of the scrotum, testis, epididymis including blood supply and
innervation.
- Describe the structure and course of the spermatic cord and vas deferens.
- Describe the anatomy of the prostate gland, seminal vesicles and their anatomical
relations. Describe the position of the prostate and relationship to the rectum.
- Identify the perineal muscles of the male.
- Distinguish between erection, emission and ejaculation.
Female sexual organs
- Describe the position and form of the ovary, uterine tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina and
their anatomical relationships, including peritoneal coverings.
- Identify and describe the female perineum including the female external genitalia,
perineal muscles and anal canal.
- Describe the arterial supply of the vulva.
- Describe the venous and lymphatic drainage of the vulva.
- Describe the nerves of female perineum.
Pelvic Diaphragm
- Describe the levator ani and coccygeus muscle, location and innervations.
Urinary system
- Describe the anatomy of the urinary bladder, its base and ureteric openings. Explain how
its position changes with filling and its relationship to the overlying peritoneum.
- Describe the anatomy of the urethra; explain the anatomy of its different parts in males
and females.
- Describe the innervation of the bladder and its sphincters and the mechanism of
micturition.
Sources:
Moore, Keith L., Arthur F. Dalley, and A. M. R. Agur. Clinically Oriented Anatomy.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006. Print.
University of Michigan. "Medical Gross Anatomy Learning Resources." Medical
Gross Anatomy - Home. <http://anatomy.med.umich.edu/>.
Loyola University. "Structure of Human Body Learning Objectives."
<http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/meded/grossanatomy/2010/SHB%20Core%20Learning%2
0Objectives.pdf>.
Ians graduate schools anatomy course abdomen objectives.