Transverse Mesocolon (Mesocolon transversum)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The transverse mesocolon is a broad, mobile horizontal peritoneal fold connecting the transverse colon to the anterior border of the pancreas on the posterior abdominal wall. Dividing the peritoneal cavity into the supracolic (stomach, liver, spleen) and infracolic (small bowel, colon) compartments, it carries the middle colic vessels.
Clinical notes
During posterior gastrectomy or pancreatic surgery, the middle colic vessels running within the transverse mesocolon must be carefully preserved to avoid ischemic necrosis of the transverse colon.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Transverse Mesocolon?
The transverse mesocolon is a broad, mobile horizontal peritoneal fold connecting the transverse colon to the anterior border of the pancreas on the posterior abdominal wall. Dividing the peritoneal cavity into the supracolic (stomach, liver, spleen) and infracolic (small bowel, colon) compartments, it carries the middle colic vessels.
Why is the Transverse Mesocolon clinically important?
During posterior gastrectomy or pancreatic surgery, the middle colic vessels running within the transverse mesocolon must be carefully preserved to avoid ischemic necrosis of the transverse colon.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details