The omentum
Greater and lesser omentum · omentum
A fatty apron hanging in front of your intestines that walls off infections.
What it does
The greater omentum is a sheet of fatty tissue that hangs down from the stomach like an apron over the intestines. It stores fat, contains immune cells and can move to wrap around inflamed areas. The smaller lesser omentum links the stomach to the liver.
Surprising fact
The omentum is nicknamed the "policeman of the abdomen" because it migrates to wall off infected or injured spots, such as an inflamed appendix.
Why it matters
Fat stored in and around the omentum, visceral fat, is more closely linked to diabetes and heart disease than fat under the skin.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.