Omentum and Visceral Fat Differences

ADDITIONAL ARTICLE: How To Calculate And Measure The Visceral Fat Level

Introduction

Content Keywords:
Omentum, Milky spots, Greater omentum, Peritoneum, Abdominal and Pelvis wall, Mesothelial cells, Visceral peritoneum fat, Lesser omentum…

Let us see what is the meaning and purpose of omentum.
At the same time, we are interested to know what is the relationship between the omentum and visceral fat.

Omentum origin

The origin of the word omentum is coming from the italic language. In old italic language, the word omentum is written as umen.

The meaning of the word umen means ointment. The explanation of the word origin omentum has a connection to some kind of oily substance.

Generally speaking, we are using the ointment for medical purposes, when we rub the fatty cream or oil on the skin. In pharmacology, we are using ointment mainly for two purposes.

The first purpose of ointment is to heal the skin from swelling and redness. The second purpose of ointment is to protect the skin from drying and cracking.

The Latin translation of the word omentum means apron in the English word. To understand better, why people related omentum to apron let us find the meaning of the word apron.

What is an apron and for what purpose do we use an apron?

An apron is a piece of clothing, that we wear over our clothing. The protective garment called an apron is covering the frontal chest and belly part of our clothes.

We tie and fix an apron around our neck and back. The main purpose of the apron is to protect our clothes and shin from stains, dirt, acids, and heat.

We will see that omentum has a similar purpose as an apron.
Today we are using aprons at work in different professions.

The aprons are the most used in places like the kitchen at home, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and laboratories.

Concerning the apron, we could label the omentum as the protector of the abdomen.

What is omentum?

The omentum is a body apron, that covers the frontal part of the abdominal area. The basic material of omentum is adipose tissues.

The omentum adipose tissues are made of fat tissues. Our omentum fatty tissue is composed of many fat cells.

The omentum is made from a double layer of adipose or fat tissue that is covering the internal abdominal region of our body.

In human beings, the omentum can reach an area even more than 1,225 cm2, which is equal to 35×35 cm2.

The main function of omentum

The main function of our omentum fat tissue is to cover and protects all frontal area of the body from the stomach down through
the intestines.

At the same time, the omentum supports also the intestines and other body organs, that are located in the frontal belly area. The double layer of omentum have abilities to shock-absorbing gel.

The function of our omentum fatty tissue is to absorb the external force by protecting the frontal body organs of the torso.

A primary application of omentum is a fat protecting layer. Omentum elastic sheet of fat prevents the impact of external force.

Our omentum safeguards us from hurting or damaging the peritoneal cavity that including the liver, stomach, and intestines.

Other functions of omentum

The other important function of the omentum is having unique immune functions.

Made up mostly of visceral adipose tissue, the omentum has capabilities to protect the abdomen area from microbes, toxins, and infections.

Since our omentum can react to bacteria, can be also known as the responsive organ.

In this case here, we can see that adipose fat tissue of the omentum can have an influential role in the abdominal organs that it covers.

Visceral adipose active fat

The omentum is mostly composed of visceral fat. Therefore, we can assume that visceral adipose fat tissue is reactive and receptive part of the omentum.

This differentiates visceral fat from other body fats. The visceral adipose fat is an active fat comparable to other body fats that are passive.

Being an active fat means that visceral fat has much more influence on body organs, than passive fat.

When we speak about omentum, we are referring to 75% of omentum to be visceral fat. Therefore the functions and activities of the omentum are very similar to visceral fat.

Anatomy of omentum

Omentum contains lymphoid aggregates, which are a group of immune cells in our body.

These lymphoid immune cells are lymphocytes, plasma cells, and histiocytes.

Lymphocytes are part of white blood cells. The responsibility of lymphocyte cells initiates an immune response toward foreign invaders, viruses, and bacteria that enters our body.

Plasma cells

Plasma cells are white blood cells that are created in the lymphoid organs. The fundamental function of plasma white blood cells is, that are related to the immune system.

Our white plasma cells determine the precision of the immune response to affected foreign invaders present in the body.

Histiocytes are the vertebrate immune cells as part of the organism’s immune system. Circulating through the body, histiocytes enter the various body organs and stay there.

Their key role is to regulate our immune functions in specific tissues and organs.

Omentum milky spots

Omentum lymphoid immune cells are in the form of milky spots (MSs).
Milky spots of omentum attract and accumulate antigens.

Toxins and other foreign substances are stockpiled in milky spots.

The presence of poisonous antigens in milky spots persuades omentum lymphoid immune cells to inform the body’s immune system.

The information that our immune system gets from milky spots is about the presence of dangerous viruses, bacteria, and toxins in the body.

The production of antibodies by your immune system starts, to protect the body from unwanted substances to eliminate them.

The anomaly of milky spots

Milky spots are collecting foreign cells, antigens, and bacteria and later decide what’s going to happen. Analyses of antigens done by milky spots cause that omentum responds immunologically.

But when our omentum milky spots make a mistake, the wrong decision is made.

Milky spots are like unexploded bombs full of poisonous dangerous antigens, which can explode when triggered by an anomaly caused by visceral obesity.

As we know visceral fat is spread across the abdominal area covering many of our internal abdominal organs.

The anomaly of milky spots that are spread across the visceral apron can become a breeding ground for aggressive tumors. This tumor can be then developed into different kinds of cancers.

Omentum and adiponectin hormones

A large amount of visceral fat on the omentum has also effects on our adiponectin hormones, which regulate glucose levels.

Interference of visceral fat with adiponectin, cause abnormality and irregularity of fat generation.

Oversized visceral fat

This kind of misinformation coming from the massive oversized visceral fat is causing false and inaccurate information about the amount of fat accumulated in our omentum.

Since omentum visceral fat covers many abdominal organs it delivers to them deceived misleading information about the reality of accumulated fat.

The result is abnormal functionality of abdominal organs, that are in touch with visceral fat.

Omentum and tumor cells

We should know that omentum collects also tumor cells that are destroyed in the early stage by lymphoid immune cells.

The problem is when omentum collects too many antigens in milky spots and is no anymore able to process them.

This uncontrollable situation of omentum cause instability of milky spots, that contain dangerous collected antigens.

Now, you can imagine if this hazardous substance flow over the edge of a milky spot container in big amounts. In the worst case, cancer found its location of growth.

The Structure of omentum

As an individual body organ, the omentum is divided into two anatomically parts.

These two components of our omentum are called the greater and lesser omentum or bigger and smaller omentum parts. Each of the two parts of the omentum has a distinctive role and purpose.

Greater omentum

The difference between the greater omentum and the lesser omentum is also in size. The greater omentum is much bigger than the lesser omentum.

The greater omentum is a larger cover of fat that serves as a fatty layer. Our fatty blanket of omentum is hanging down from the stomach.

This flexible fat cover hanging from the stomach is called the peritoneum. So, the greater omentum has a peritoneum fatty sheet that is fixed to a stomach.

Peritoneum

The peritoneum is a greater omentum apron or greater omentum fat tissue cover.

To better understand the structure of the peritoneum, we need to imagine the peritoneum as a layer that is split into two parts.

Two layers of the peritoneum are the outer and inner layers of the peritoneum.

The outer layer of the peritoneum is called the parietal peritoneum and the inner layer of the peritoneum is referred to as the visceral peritoneum.

Peritoneum main function

The main function of the Peritoneum is to support and connect internal organs that are in the abdominal cavity.

Our abdomen organs in the abdominal cavity are digestive, reproductive, and excretion organs.

The Peritoneum in this case has an enormous influence on abdomen organs. This impact can be positive or negative directly to our abdomen organs, which are in close contact with Peritoneum.

Peritoneum surface area

Approximately 80% of our total peritoneum surface area is covered with the abdominal viscera fat or visceral peritoneum.

The peritoneum membrane covers the abdominal cavity and serves as a supportive structure for many of the abdominal organs.

It connects to the abdominal wall and functions as a channel for the vital abdominal organs.

The peritoneum layer is also helping to supply our abdominal organs nerves, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels.

At the same time, the peritoneal blanket supports the abdominal organs in their positions and maintains their function.

The peritoneum outer layer or the parietal peritoneum

The outer layer of the peritoneum is connected to the walls of our abdomen and pelvis.

So, the abdomen is part of our body that is located between our chest down to the pelvis. The pelvis is our bowl-shaped bone and is part of the lower trunk.

The abdominal wall

The abdominal wall is surrounding the abdominal cavity. Our abdominal cavity is one of the biggest abdominal spaces in the human body.

The abdominal chamber or cavity contains many of our internal organs.

In the abdomen cavity, we can find the main digestive body organs like the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum which is the end of the digestive tube or tract and anus.

The pelvis wall

The pelvis wall is surrounding the pelvis cavity. The pelvis space area includes the pelvis organs. The pelvis organs in the pelvis zone are the organs related to the urinary system.

Therefore the peritoneum outer layer or the parietal peritoneum is composed of the abdominal and pelvis wall.

Because of this abdominal and pelvis wall is part of the peritoneum outer layer that surrounds the abdominal and pelvis organs.

Abdominal and pelvis anatomy

Our interest, in this case, is not so much abdominal and pelvis walls, because those do not contain much fat. The general abdominal and pelvis construction of the wall is made from four layers.

From the outside, we have our skin. This skin is attached to the connective tissue which is linked to muscles.

There is another connective tissue between muscles and the outer layer of the peritoneum, which is connected to our abdomen and pelvis walls.

The peritoneum outer layer or mesothelium

The peritoneum outer layer that surrounds the abdomen and pelvic wall is made up of a single layer.

The peritoneum single outer layer is called mesothelium. The mesothelium is our body tissue composed of mesothelial cells.

Mesothelial cells function

The function of mesothelial cells is to provide and maintain the slippery surface of the peritoneum outer layer.

Because of the presence of nonadhesive mesothelial cells on the parietal peritoneum, the peritoneum outer layer is not tending to stick.

At the same time, the peritoneum outer layer based on mesothelial tissue acts also as a protective surface layer on the abdominal and pelvis walls.

Mesothelial cell membrane additional functions

The mesothelial cell membrane is a biologically active membrane, with the function of transporting fluid across the serosal areas.

The serosal cavity includes the pericardial cavity where the heart is and a pleural cavity that surrounds the lungs.

In addition to that, the serosal cavity contains also the peritoneal cavity where the remaining space is, which is not covered by abdominal organs.

Additional functions of the mesothelial cell membrane are the capabilities of responding to our inflammations within the abdomen area.

Peritoneum outer layer and visceral fat

Visceral fat is not present in the peritoneum outer layer or the parietal peritoneum.

When we study deeply the peritoneum outer layer or the parietal peritoneum of the greater omentum, we can not find the
presence of visceral fat or any kind of different adipose fat.

The peritoneum outer layer has many kinds of biological functions in our abdominal and pelvis walls. But none of the parietal peritoneum activities is related to visceral fat.

Fatless peritoneum outer layer

The peritoneum outer layer purpose is not connected to the production of visceral or any kind of fat. Visceral fat and peritoneum outer layer are not dependent on one another.

Because the peritoneum outer layer does not generate visceral fat. Our interest is to find the origin that generates the visceral fat.

The peritoneum outer layer is sensitive to pain because it acts as a supply organ for the peripheral nervous system.

The peritoneum inner layer or the visceral peritoneum

Let us now study the second peritoneum layer that is part of
a greater omentum apron or greater omentum fat tissue cover.

The second peritoneum greater omentum apron is called the inner layer of the peritoneum and is referred to as the visceral peritoneum.

The inner layer of the peritoneum and or visceral peritoneum is wrapping the internal organs inside the intraperitoneal area of the belly.

More than 75% of visceral fat is located in the greater omentum, that is covering most abdominal organs.

Visceral peritoneum fat

Visceral peritoneum fat that is residing within the inner region of the abdominal cavity comprises 10 % of the total body fat.

The peritoneum outer layer is not sensitive to pain, because
the autonomic nervous system supplies nerves to the visceral peritoneum, which is insensitive to pain.

The structure of the intraperitoneal area

The intraperitoneal area that is covered by visceral fat consists of three spaces. These three areas of the intraperitoneal area are the supramesocolic area, inframesocolic area, and pelvic area.

The intraperitoneal area is the abdominal place, which includes the organs of the abdomen. The group of abdomen organs is called intraperitoneal organs.

The intraperitoneal organs

The intraperitoneal organs of the abdomen are:

Liver
Definition: The largest body organ
Function: Filtering blood, helps digestion, detoxification, and protein synthesis

Spleen
Definition: The largest lymphatic organ
Function: Blood storage, fighting infections, filtering blood

Pancreas
Definition: Glandular organ
Function: Production of correct and proper quantity of correct chemicals

Stomach
Definition: Temporary storage for food
Function: Mixing, and breakdown of food, digestion of food

Duodenum
Definition: Element of the small intestine
Function: Digesting nutrients and passing them into the blood vessels

Jejunum
Definition: Element of the small intestine
Function: Absorbing nutrients from digested food and giving them into the bloodstream

Ileum
Definition: Element of the small intestine
Function: Absorbing nutrients from the food

Cecum
Definition: Part of the small and large intestines
Function: Holding liquid, absorbing salt, lubricate

Appendix
Definition: Part of the gastrointestinal tract
Function: Containing a good bacteria, protecting infections

Transverse colon
Definition: The longest movable part of the colon
Function: Digesting and excreting of waste products

Sigmoid colon
Definition: The last part of the colon
Function: Absorbing water, vitamins, and minerals from undigested food

Rectum
Definition: The end of the digestive tract
Function: Holds the feces

The purpose of visceral peritoneum

The main purpose of the inner layer from the peritoneum is the protection of the visceral internal organs.

Our internal layer of the visceral peritoneum is thinner than the external layer of the parietal peritoneum.

The peritoneum inner layer or the visceral peritoneum is overspread around the intraperitoneal organs.

This means that are intraperitoneal organs in direct contact with visceral fat or visceral peritoneum.

Our intraperitoneal organs Liver, Spleen, Pancreas, Stomach, Duodenum, Jejunum, Ileum, Cecum, Appendix, Transverse colon, Sigmoid colon, and Rectum are non-stop exposed to visceral fat.

The visceral peritoneum function

The visceral peritoneum or the peritoneum inner layer acts as a storage area for fat.

When there is excessive storage of fat in the visceral peritoneum, we possess abdominal obesity. We got belly fat. Our stomachs are visibly grown larger.

An excessive amount of visceral peritoneum

Lavish superabundant uncontrolled abdominal fat creates high-risk conditions to get coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, digestion pains, cancers, and other serious health problems.

Our omental visceral peritoneum fat is stored deeply in the abdomen and wraps important abdominal organs.

When we deposit too much visceral peritoneum fat can lead to inflammation and high blood pressure, increasing the risk of major health problems.

This condition of overweight is defined as central or abdominal obesity.

Lesser omentum

The smaller part of the omentum is called the lesser omentum or small omentum. Sometimes is lesser omentum also referred to as gastrohepatic omentum?

Our lesser omentum is much smaller in the size than the greater omentum.

Lesser Omentum Location

The lesser omentum is attached to the liver and hangs down until reach the lesser curvature, which is the boundary of the stomach.

The stomach and the duodenum are attached to the liver, through the lesser omentum.

Lesser Omentum anatomy

The stomach is a J-shaped elastic muscular organ and is located on the left side of the upper abdomen. Our stomach is like a flexible bag having a concave or sunken appearance.

The end part of the lesser omentum has attached to the surface of the lesser curvature of the stomach.

The lesser curvature is the inner curve of the J-shaped stomach. The greater curvature is the outer curve of the J-shaped stomach.

The greater omentum location

The greater omentum hangs down from the stomach and the lesser omentum hangs down from the liver.

Our frontal surface of the stomach is related to the liver, the diaphragm (muscle used in respiration), the transverse colon (upper part of the large intestine), and the frontal abdominal wall.

Lesser curvature and blood supply

The lesser curvature is supplying the stomach with blood through arteries.

A branch of a major artery of the abdomen called the coeliac trunk is supplied with blood through the left abdominal artery.

Hepatic artery proper

The artery that supplies the liver and gallbladder is called the hepatic artery proper or the proper hepatic artery gets blood through the right abdominal artery.

In the case the lesser curvature gets too fatty with visceral fat, it can disturb our blood supply to the abdomen, liver, and gallbladder.

The hepatogastric and hepatoduodenal ligament

The hepatogastric ligament which is part of the lesser omentum connects the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach.

The hepatoduodenal ligament edge part of the lesser omentum is part between the liver and duodenum.

Our lesser curvature of the stomach is part of the peritoneal layer of the lesser omentum.

The peritoneal layer of the lesser omentum continues into the visceral peritoneum that is covering the front and back surfaces of the stomach.

The lesser omentum is thinner and contains connective fatty tissue.
The responsibility of the lesser omentum is to store deposits of fat.

The greater and lesser omentum healthy and unhealthy state

In a healthy state, the greater and lesser omentum function properly. Their look is transparent and has a fine lace cord structure.

In an unhealthy state, the greater and lesser omentum becomes thick and filled with fat. Their look is not any more transparent and cannot able to be seen through.

Affected greater and lesser omentum

When the greater and lesser omentum becomes sick they cause to us various health problems in the abdominal area. The major arteries of the abdomen, liver, and gallbladder get unhealthy.

The sugar level in the blood gets unstable. The inflammation starts in different abdominal organs causing reactions against injuries and infections.

Omentum healthy size

The ideal healthy size of omentum around the belly button for men is 35 inches or less and for a woman is 32 inches or less.

Find out how much omentum visceral fat you have by simply sucking in your stomach. Relax your belly muscles and take a deep breath in.

Create a stomach vacuum, by sucking in your stomach. Imagine that you are pulling your belly stomach and button toward your spine.

Find approximately the amount of visceral fat

Suck in the stomach as much as possible and then measure the size around the belly button. This way you eliminated the air from your belly. Now grab the belly fat with your hand and feel it.

Squeez it. You can feel how much subcutaneous fat you have. This is the fat under your belly skin. Omentum visceral fat cannot be sucked in and lies under your layer of abs muscle and subcutaneous fat.

This way you can get the feeling of how much visceral fat remains in the belly.

Deduce the subcutaneous fat amount which you hold in your hand minus the abs muscle layer and you get a remaining amount of omentum visceral fat.

CONTENT

• Omentum origin
• What is an apron and for what purpose do we use an apron?
• What is omentum?
• The main function of omentum
• Visceral adipose active fat
• Anatomy of omentum
• Plasma cells
• Omentum milky spots
• The anomaly of milky spots
• Omentum and adiponectin hormones
• Oversized visceral fat
• Omentum and tumor cells
• The Structure of omentum
• Greater omentum
• Peritoneum
• Peritoneum main function
• Peritoneum surface area
• The peritoneum outer layer or the parietal peritoneum
• The abdominal wall
• The pelvis wall
• Abdominal and pelvis anatomy
• The peritoneum outer layer or mesothelium
• Mesothelial cells function
• Mesothelial cell membrane additional functions
• Peritoneum outer layer and visceral fat
• Fatless peritoneum outer layer
• The peritoneum inner layer or the visceral peritoneum
• Visceral peritoneum fat
• The structure of the intraperitoneal area
• The intraperitoneal organs
• The purpose of visceral peritoneum
• The visceral peritoneum function
• An excessive amount of visceral peritoneum
• Lesser omentum
• Lesser Omentum Location
• Lesser Omentum anatomy
• The greater omentum location
• Lesser curvature and blood supply
• Hepatic artery proper
• The hepatogastric and hepatoduodenal ligament
• The greater and lesser omentum healthy and unhealthy state
• Affected greater and lesser omentum
• Omentum healthy size
• Find approximately the amount of visceral fat