Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2022; 35(04): 265-268
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743429
Review Article

The Mesentery—Past, Present, and Future

J. Calvin Coffey
1   Department of Surgery, University of Limerick Hospital Group, and School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Ireland
,
W. Hohenberger
2   University Hospital Erlangen, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
,
R. Heald
3   Fundação Champalimaud, Portugal
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

This article summarizes the events that shaped our current understanding of the mesentery and the abdomen. The story of how this evolved is intriguing at several levels. It speaks to considerable personal commitment on the part of the pioneers involved. It explains how scientific and clinical fields went different directions with respect to anatomy and clinical practice. It demonstrates that it is no longer acceptable to adhere unquestioningly to models of abdominal anatomy and surgery. The article concludes with a brief description of the Mesenteric Model of abdominal anatomy, and of how this now presents an opportunity to unify scientific and clinical approaches to the latter.



Publication History

Article published online:
10 August 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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