Ligament of Treitz

• The ligament of Treitz, also known as the suspensory ligament of the duodenum, is a double fold of peritoneum suspending the duodenojejunal flexure from the retroperitoneum.

• It is often used interchangeably with duodenojejunal flexure.

• The ligament of Treitz comprises two parts:

  • accessory muscle, also known as Hilfsmuskel
    • passes from the right crus of the diaphragm to connective tissue surrounding the coeliac artery
    • composed of skeletal muscle tissue
  • suspensory muscle of the duodenum
    • descends from connective tissue of coeliac artery to the duodenojejunal flexure, between the pancreas and the left renal vein
    • this is the part that suspends the duodenojejunal flexure
    • composed of smooth muscle