Part II

Splanchnology
Chapter 1

The general Description

Li yueying
Department of anatomy
Medical school of xi’an jiaotong university
I. The definition and subdivisions of the splanchnology :
alimentary system
respiratory system
urinary system
genital system
• The study of viscera.
• Most of them are situated in the thoracic, abdominal and
pelvic cavities and are associated with the pleura or
peritoneum.
• It also opened to outside of body directly or indirectly.
II . The main functions of viscera:
• The alimentary system: to ingest foods, secrete enzymes
that modify the sizes of food molecules, absorb the products
of this digestive action and to eliminate the unused residues.
• The respiratory system: to carry out the gas exchanges
--- supply oxygen for the living cells and remove carbon
dioxide resulting from cell metabolism.
• The urinary system: to keep the body in homeostasis by
removing and restoring selected amount of water and solutes.
It also excretes selected amount of various wastes.
• The genital system: to produce germ cells and to secrete
some hormones.
III . The general structures of viscera:
1. The tubular organs: The wall of them is formed by 4
layers. from inside to outside, they are:
• Mucosa (mucous membrane)
--- epithelium
--- lamina propria of mucosa
--- muscular layer of mucosa
--- mucous folds
--- lymphoid nodule
--- glands of mucosa
• Submucosa
--- glands of submucosa
--- lymphatic tissue of submucosa
• Muscular coats
--- inner circular layer
--- outer longitudinal layer
• Serosa or adventitia
2. The parenchymatous organs:
--- a soft, grayish-red or brownish mass.
--- fibrous capsule or serous membrane
--- fibrous septum and lobules
--- hilum or porta and root of the viscus
IV. The reference lines and abdominal regions
1. References lines of the thorax:
• Anterior median line
• Sternal line
• Midclavicular line
• Parasternal line
• Anterior axillary line
• Midaxillary line
• Posterior axillary line
• Scapular line
• Para vertebral line
• Posterior median line
2. Reference lines of abdomen and abdominal regions:
• 2 transverse lines :
subcostal line
transtubercular line
• 2 longitudinal lines:
midinguinal lines
• 9 regions:
right and left hypochondriac regions
right and left lumbar （ lateral ） regions
right and left inguinal (iliac) regions
epigastric region
umbilical region
hypogastric (pubic) region
2. Reference lines of abdomen and abdominal regions:
• a transverse line through the umbilicus and a vertical line
in the midline of the body.
• 4 regions:
upper right ( RUQ )
upper left ( LUQ )
lower right ( RLQ )
lower left ( LLQ )