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    Related Topics

    From Digestive System

    Sublingual Glands
    Salivary glands beneath the tongue.
    Soft Palate
    Muscular posterior part of the roof of the mouth.
    Descending Colon
    Vertical segment of the colon on the left side.
    Body
    Main central region of the stomach.
    Caudate Lobe
    Lobe of liver near inferior vena cava.
    Ileum
    Final and longest portion of the small intestine.
    Cheeks
    Lateral walls of the oral cavity composed of muscle and fat.
    Anus
    Opening through which feces are expelled.
    Pylorus
    Distal part of stomach leading to duodenum.
    Lips
    Fleshy borders of the mouth that aid in speech and food intake.
    Teniae Coli
    Longitudinal muscle bands of colon.
    Duodenal Bulb
    Initial section of duodenum closest to the stomach.
    Fundus
    Upper curved portion of the stomach.
    Submandibular Glands
    Salivary glands beneath the mandible.
    Palatine Tonsils
    Lymphatic tissues on either side of the oropharynx.
    Uvula
    Dangling soft tissue at the back of the soft palate.
    Nasopharynx
    Superior region of pharynx behind the nasal cavity.
    Vermiform Appendix
    Worm-like appendage of the cecum.
    Pyloric Sphincter
    Regulates passage of chyme from stomach to duodenum.
    Upper Esophageal Sphincter
    Muscle ring that controls entry into the esophagus.
    Liver
    Largest gland in the body with roles in metabolism and bile production.
    Oral Cavity
    Entry point of the digestive system; includes teeth, tongue, and salivary openings.
    Laryngopharynx
    Lower part of pharynx leading to esophagus.
    Lesser Omentum
    Connects stomach and liver.
    Major Duodenal Papilla
    Opening for bile and pancreatic ducts into duodenum.

    Epiploic Appendages

    Reviewed by our medical team

    Fat-filled pouches attached to colon.

    Overview

    Epiploic appendages (also known as appendices epiploicae) are small, fat-filled pouches of peritoneum that protrude from the surface of the colon. Though their precise physiological function is not fully understood, they are thought to play roles in fat storage, cushioning, and possibly immune defense. These structures are most notable for their clinical significance in cases of inflammation or torsion, which can mimic other abdominal pathologies.

    Location

    Epiploic appendages are found along the external surface of the colon, specifically:

    • Attached to the taeniae coli, the three longitudinal muscle bands of the colon

    • Present from the cecum to the sigmoid colon, but most prominent in the transverse and sigmoid segments

    • Absent from the rectum and appendix

    They are positioned on the antimesenteric border of the colon and hang freely into the peritoneal cavity.

    Structure

    Each epiploic appendage is a:

    • Small, pendulous structure usually measuring 0.5–5 cm in length

    • Composed of adipose tissue surrounded by visceral peritoneum

    • Supplied by one or two small arteries, typically branches of the vasa recta, and drained by a single small vein

    Because of their limited blood supply and narrow pedicle, they are prone to torsion and vascular occlusion.

    Function

    The specific function of epiploic appendages is not definitively known, but proposed roles include:

    • Fat storage: Act as small reservoirs of adipose tissue

    • Protection: Provide mechanical cushioning to the colon during peristalsis

    • Immune function: May participate in local immune responses, similar to other fat-associated lymphoid tissues

    Physiological Role(s)

    Though their physiological importance is considered minor, epiploic appendages may:

    • Absorb shock: Serve as padding to protect the colon from mechanical forces

    • Act as metabolic reserves: Provide a small energy store in the form of fat

    • Support immune activity: Possibly contribute to peritoneal defense mechanisms, especially in response to localized inflammation

    Clinical Significance

    Epiploic appendages are involved in a few distinct clinical conditions:

    • Epiploic appendagitis: Inflammation due to torsion or venous thrombosis of an appendage; presents as acute localized abdominal pain, often mistaken for appendicitis or diverticulitis

    • Imaging features: Diagnosed by CT scan, which shows an oval, fat-density lesion with surrounding inflammation adjacent to the colon

    • Management: Typically self-limiting, treated conservatively with NSAIDs; surgery is rarely required

    • Postsurgical considerations: Can be inadvertently removed or confused with other fat-based lesions during abdominal surgery

    • Differential diagnosis: Important to distinguish epiploic appendagitis from other acute abdominal conditions to avoid unnecessary surgery

    While epiploic appendages are not essential to digestive function, their potential to cause acute symptoms and mimic more serious pathology makes them clinically relevant.

    Did you know? Your digestive system works continuously, even when you are not eating, by processing food and waste.