Click image to view full screen

Upon consultation with the laboratory instructor, the posterior abdominal wall can be studied with the abdominal organs in situ (step 1) or studied by the removal of the abdominal organs (step 2). The best exposure to the retroperitoneal space and organs is provided by the procedure described in step 2. Step 3 begins the actual dissection of the posterior abdominal wall regardless of which approach (step 1 or step 2) is used.