In this exercise we will reverse dissect the structures related to the posterior abdomen. First lets build the posterior abdominal wall musculature:
Begin with the skeleton of the abdomen
Add the quadratus lumborum which stabilizes the twelfth rib and helps with bending laterally.
Add the iliacus muscle
Add the Psoas major (which in the VH cadaver is a blending of the psoas major and psoas minor muscles.)
Add the diaphragm
Identify the following structures on the cadaver in the 3D window:
Medial (left and right crus) ligaments
Median ligaments
Lateral ligaments
Rotate the cadaver so you can see the inferior (caudal) side of the diaphragm and identify the caval hiatus, esophageal hiatus and aortic haitus.
Now we will add in the viscera of the posterior abdomen:
Start by adding the aorta and iliac arteries.
Add the renal arteries.
A normal variation may include accessory renal arteries.
Add the testicular arteries—more about the origin and location of these arteries during the discussion of the reproductive organs.
Add the kidneys.
Stop here and review the posterior relationships of the kidney:
The 11th and 12th ribs cross the left kidney in the superior pole.
Only the 12th rib crosses the superior pole of the right kidney owing to its lower placement (due to its position under the liver).
Both kidneys lie anterior to transversus abdominis, quadratus lumborum, psoas major & minor, as well as the diaphragm (superior pole)
Note that the hilum of the right kidney is lower than that of the left kidney.
Add the inferior vena cava and common iliac veins
Add the right and left renal veins
Add the renal pelvis and ureters
Add the suprarenal glands
Add the suprarenal vessels
Below are some additional links to VH Dissector Bookmarks to help you preview and review the anatomy of the kidneys and posterior abdomen:
Full abdominal vasculature: Illustrates the complexity of the abdominal vasculature, and relationships to posterior abdominal viscera and musculature
Abdomen: Much of the abdominal viscera were removed here so that relationships of retroperitoneal structures can be seen.
VH Dissector steps modified for Drexel Dissector by Dr. Haviva Goldman from original website activity created by Jeffrey Fahl, MD, Kyle Petersen, PhD, Richard Drake, PhD, Alesha Petitt, MA, Claira Ralston, MS and Kim Price, MA and modified by Jeffrey Fahl, MD, Michael Smith, PhD, Albany Medical College.