Epiploic foramen

Last revised by Mina Sameh Rizk on 8 Feb 2024

The epiploic foramen, also called the foramen of Winslow, is a small vertical passage between the greater sac (peritoneal cavity proper) and the lesser sac (omental bursa), allowing communication between these two spaces.

The foramen is eloquently described as the opening to the lesser sac located "between the two great veins of the abdomen (portal vein and inferior vena cava)" 3.

Gross anatomy

Boundaries

Related pathology

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