[The great omentum in surgical pathology]

The aim of the survey is to bring forward the relationship structure-function-pathology of the great omentum from the surgical point of view. The common origin (similar) with that of the spleen and the structural particularities give the great omentum distinct responding potentialities in pathology and these have challenged the anatomists, anatomo-pathologists and surgeons to a more careful and deep research for the last one hundred years. The study corroborates data from literature with the authors' experimental, clinical and microscopic research regarding the vascularization, the lymphoreticular component and the innervation, with the aim of emphasizing the functions of the great omentum in pathological conditions: plasticity, adherence to traumatized and swollen areas, neo-vascularization, absorption of fluids and phagocytosis. Concerning the innervation, by using special techniques, we have managed to emphasize neurofibres in interlobular spaces. By using clinical observation and microscopic study, we can notice dynamically the changes of the great omentum in the inflammatory pathology and in front of the malignant tumour invasion. Last but not least, this survey pays our respects to professor Ion Kiricuta, the first who used the great omentum in plastic surgery and whose studies stimulated the research concerning the great omentum that has been a subject for the international conferences for the last 20 years.