Ascending part of duodenum
Pars ascendens duodeni
- Synonym: Fourth part of duodenum
- Related terms: Ascending part (D4); Ascending part; Duodenum: Ascending part; Duodenum (Ascending part); Duodenum - Ascending part (D4)
Definition
The ascending part (D4) of duodenum (pars ascendens; fourth portion) of the duodenum is about 2.5 cm long.
It ascends on the left side of the aorta, as far as the level of the upper border of the second lumbar vertebra, where it turns abruptly forward to become the jejunum, forming the duodenojejunal flexure.
It lies in front of the left Psoas major and left renal vessels, and is covered in front, and partly at the sides, by peritoneum continuous with the left portion of the mesentery.
This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).
