Ligament
Transverse mesocolon
The mesentery beneath the stomach and pancreas
High-yield
The root crosses the pancreatic head and follows the lower border of the body, rather than one uniform anterior edge of the gland.
Overview
The transverse mesocolon carries the colon's neurovascular connections between peritoneal layers. Its posterior attachment crosses the duodenal and pancreatic region, while its mobile edge accompanies the colon. It forms an important floor of the upper abdominal peritoneal compartment.
Reference facts
- Attachments
- Attached across the descending duodenal and pancreatic-head region and along the inferior pancreatic body; its colonic edge joins the transverse colon and fused omental layers.
- Function
- Suspends the transverse colon, conveys middle colic vessels, lymphatics and nerves, and separates supracolic from infracolic spaces.
- Clinical point
- Collections may follow or pass around this mesentery. Its proximity to pancreas and middle colic vessels matters during operations in the lesser-sac and pancreatic region.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the transverse mesocolon attach?
Attached across the descending duodenal and pancreatic-head region and along the inferior pancreatic body; its colonic edge joins the transverse colon and fused omental layers.
What does the transverse mesocolon do?
Suspends the transverse colon, conveys middle colic vessels, lymphatics and nerves, and separates supracolic from infracolic spaces.
Why does the transverse mesocolon matter clinically?
Collections may follow or pass around this mesentery. Its proximity to pancreas and middle colic vessels matters during operations in the lesser-sac and pancreatic region.