mesentérios

Mesentérios, in anatomy, refer to folds of peritoneum that attach internal organs to the posterior abdominal wall. They form conduits for blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics and contain varying amounts of fat. The term encompasses several distinct structures that suspend different portions of the gastrointestinal tract and provide a framework for organ mobility within the abdomen.

The mesentery proper is the best known example, suspending most of the small intestine (jejunum and ileum) from the posterior abdominal wall in a fan-shaped sheet. The large intestine has its own mesenteries, notably the transverse mesocolon and the sigmoid mesocolon, which connect these intestinal segments to the posterior wall. Embryologically, most mesenteries arise from the dorsal mesentery of the gut, and the modern view in anatomy treats the mesentery as a continuous organ comprising a single, ongoing peritoneal structure around these regions.

Contents of mesenteric tissue include the mesenteric vessels (such as branches of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries and their corresponding veins), a network of nerves, lymphatic vessels and nodes, and varying amounts of adipose tissue. This configuration supports nutrient delivery, immune function and fat storage, while permitting the intestines a degree of freedom to move during peristalsis and digestion.

Clinical relevance includes surgical considerations for procedures involving the small and large intestines, and conditions such as mesenteric ischemia, mesenteric panniculitis, mesenteric cysts or tumors, and edema. A clear understanding of mesenteric anatomy aids imaging interpretation and operative planning.