1 The term mesentery is often used to refer to a double layer of visceral peritoneum. 2  There are often blood vessels, nerves, and other structures between these layers. 3  The space between these two layers is technically outside of the peritoneal sac, and thus not in the peritoneal cavity. The potential space between these two layers is the peritoneal cavity; it is filled with a small amount (about 50 mL) of slippery serous fluid that allows the two layers to slide freely over each other. 2  The term mesentery is often used to refer to a double layer of visceral peritoneum.
Overview. A biliary obstruction is a blockage of the bile ducts. The bile ducts carry bile from the liver and gallbladder through the pancreas to the small intestine (the duodenum). Bile is a dark-green or yellowish-brown fluid secreted by the liver to digest fats. Much of the bile is released directly into the small intestine, but what remains is stored in the gallbladder.
Many conditions in the pancreas, bile duct and gallbladder can block the bile duct. The most common causes of bile duct obstruction are primarily gallstones followed by bile duct cancer. These blockages in the bile duct can develop into life-threatening conditions, such as cirrhosis, biliary cancer, and jaundice.