The visceral peritoneum is the layer of peritoneum that covers the surfaces of the abdominal organs, forming their outer serous coat (serosa). It is continuous with the parietal peritoneum through the mesenteries, omenta and peritoneal ligaments. It shares the autonomic nerve supply of the organs it covers.
| Location | Outer surface of intraperitoneal organs such as the stomach, jejunum, ileum, transverse and sigmoid colon, liver and spleen |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) nerves of the underlying organs |
| Blood Supply | Arteries of the underlying organs |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Gives organs a smooth slippery surface for movement, and carries their vessels, nerves and lymphatics within its folds.
It is insensitive to cutting or burning but responds to stretching, ischaemia and chemical irritation, producing dull, poorly localised visceral pain. This pain is felt in the midline according to embryological origin: foregut in the epigastrium, midgut around the umbilicus and hindgut in the suprapubic region. Tumour growth through the visceral peritoneum (serosal invasion) raises the stage of gastric and colorectal cancers and allows peritoneal spread.
Tumour breaching the visceral peritoneum of the bowel (T4a), raising the risk of peritoneal spread and recurrence.
Dull central periumbilical pain from distension of the appendix felt before the parietal peritoneum is involved.
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