Foramen of Winslow
Other Known Aliases – omental foramen, epiploic foramen
Definition – anatomic passage between the greater sac and the lesser sac of the abdomen
Clinical Significance – there are four anatomic borders of this communication:
- Anterior – hepatoduodenal ligament
- Posterior – peritoneum covering the IVC
- Superior – peritoneum covering the caudate lobe of the liver
- Inferior – peritoneum covering the commencement of the duodenum and hepatic artery
History – Named after Jacob Winslow (1669-1760), a Danish-born French anatomist who received his degree from Ole Borch’s College in 1693, while training under barber-surgeon Johannes de Buchwalde. He would concentrate on anatomy, instead of surgery, as the site of blood “alarmed him”. He would go on to train with many of the most revered surgeons and anatomists of his time while traveling Europe and was widely regarded as the greatest European anatomist of his day. His career would culminate in achieving professor anatomicus and full professor of anatomy at Jardin du Roi in 1743. His most famous work entitled “Exposition anatomique de la structure du corps humain” was published in 1732 and was the quintessential anatomical text of the mid-1700’s
References
- Firkin BG and Whitwirth JA. Dictionary of Medical Eponyms. 2nd ed. New York, NY; Parthenon Publishing Group. 1996.
- Bartolucci S, Forbis P. Stedman’s Medical Eponyms. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD; LWW. 2005.
- Yee AJ, Pfiffner P. (2012). Medical Eponyms (Version 1.4.2) [Mobile Application Software]. Retrieved http://itunes.apple.com.
- Whonamedit – dictionary of medical eponyms. http://www.whonamedit.com
- Up To Date. www.uptodate.com
- WInslow JB. Exposition Anatomique de La Structure Du Corps Humain. 1732 [link]
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