mesenterisk

Mesenterisk, or mesenteric, refers to the mesentery, a double layer of peritoneum that suspends most of the intestines from the posterior abdominal wall. It forms a continuous, fan-shaped fold that carries blood vessels, nerves, lymphatics, and fat to the intestinal wall. The mesentery proper primarily suspends the small intestine, extending from the left of the duodenojejunal junction to the ileocecal junction, with a short mesenteric root that crosses anterior to the aorta near the level of the second lumbar vertebra. Within the mesentery run the superior mesenteric vessels and a network of lymph nodes, while the adipose tissue provides padding and a reservoir of energy.

Embryology and function: The mesentery develops from dorsal and, in parts, ventral peritoneal folds during gut rotation. In recent decades, the mesentery is increasingly described as a single, continuous organ rather than a collection of separate attachments, reflecting its integrated structure and function in supporting intestinal perfusion and immune surveillance. The mesentery acts as a conduit for blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics supplying the intestines and also plays a role in fat storage and local immune responses.

Clinical relevance: Mesenteric disease includes ischemia from arterial occlusion, particularly of the superior mesenteric artery, and chronic mesenteric ischemia. Inflammation such as mesenteritis or mesenteric panniculitis, and various tumors or cysts involving the mesentery can occur. Imaging, notably CT angiography, assesses mesenteric vessels and perfusion, while surgical procedures may involve resection or mobilization of mesenteric tissue during bowel surgery.