Abdominal Cavity and Laparoscopic Surgery
A surgeon and an engineer test a new laparoscopic medical device on a live, anesthetized pig.
For students interested in studying biomechanical engineering, especially in the field of surgery, this lesson serves as an anatomy and physiology primer of the abdominopelvic cavity. Students are introduced to the abdominopelvic cavity—a region of the body that is the focus of laparoscopic surgery—as well as the benefits and drawbacks of laparoscopic surgery. Understanding the abdominopelvic environment and laparoscopic surgery is critical for biomechanical engineers who design laparoscopic surgical tools.
Biomechanical engineers work closely with laparoscopic surgeons to develop procedures and tools for surgery. Biomechanical engineers must have an understanding of anatomy, physiology and surgery in order to communicate well with surgeons and other medical professionals. Most surgeons are not trained in mechanical design or product development, nor do they have time to focus on the engineering aspects of new surgical tools; therefore, engineers partner with surgeons to create, design, test and manufacture new tools. This partnership helps advance life-saving and life-enhancing technology such as Laparosopic Surgery tools practiced in the hands on activity Challenges of Laparoscopic Surgery.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Identify the major cavities in the human body.
- Identify the major organs of the abdominopelvic cavity.
- Describe the anatomy and physiology of the major organs of the abdominopelvic cavity.
- Explain why surgeons try to reduce trauma when performing surgical procedures on organs in the abdominal cavity.
- Explain benefits and drawbacks of laparoscopic surgery (a form of minimally invasive surgery).
- Outline the development of minimally invasive surgery through history.