Prepare for the Marieb Language of Anatomy Exam. Utilize multiple choice questions, flashcards, and explanations for each answer. Ace your exam with confidence!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following pairs are retroperitoneal organs?

Retroperitoneal organs sit behind the peritoneum, hugging the posterior abdominal wall, with peritoneum only on their anterior surface. The kidneys clearly occupy this space, lying against the back wall and not suspended freely in the abdominal cavity. The pancreas shares this position, positioned behind the stomach and largely covered by peritoneum on its front, so most of it lies behind the peritoneal lining rather than inside the peritoneal cavity. In contrast, the stomach and liver are classic intraperitoneal organs, suspended within the peritoneal cavity. The heart and lungs reside in the thoracic cavity, not the abdomen, so they aren’t retroperitoneal. The small and large intestines are mostly intraperitoneal, though some parts of the colon are retroperitoneal, so as a pair they aren’t both retroperitoneal like kidneys and pancreas. So the pair that are retroperitoneal is the kidneys and pancreas.

Retroperitoneal organs sit behind the peritoneum, hugging the posterior abdominal wall, with peritoneum only on their anterior surface. The kidneys clearly occupy this space, lying against the back wall and not suspended freely in the abdominal cavity. The pancreas shares this position, positioned behind the stomach and largely covered by peritoneum on its front, so most of it lies behind the peritoneal lining rather than inside the peritoneal cavity.

In contrast, the stomach and liver are classic intraperitoneal organs, suspended within the peritoneal cavity. The heart and lungs reside in the thoracic cavity, not the abdomen, so they aren’t retroperitoneal. The small and large intestines are mostly intraperitoneal, though some parts of the colon are retroperitoneal, so as a pair they aren’t both retroperitoneal like kidneys and pancreas.

So the pair that are retroperitoneal is the kidneys and pancreas.