Quick Facts
The greater omentum is a prominent peritoneal fold suspended from the greater curvature of the stomach and passing laterally and inferiorly a variable distance in front of the intestines; it is attached to the anterior surface of the transverse colon; a remnant of the dorsal mesogastrium, it comprises the omental apron and several peritoneal ligaments connecting abdominal organs (Dorland, 2011).
Related parts of the anatomy
Description
The greater omentum is a large double sheet of visceral peritoneum that drapes inferiorly from the greater curvature of the stomach. It hangs over the upper abdominal organs and then folds back on itself to attach to the transverse colon.
The greater omentum contains a significant amount of adipose tissue, and it also plays a role in immune function.
The left and right gastroepiploic arteries, which run along the inferior border of the stomach, supply the greater omentum, and an anastomosis of these vessels, called the epiploic arterial arc, lies along its inferior peritoneal fold.
References
Dorland, W. (2011) Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 32nd edn. Philadelphia, USA: Elsevier Saunders.
