Peritoneal recesses (or peritoneal gutters) are the spaces formed by
peritoneum draping over
viscera.
The term refers mainly to four spaces in the abdominal cavity; the two
paracolic gutters The paracolic gutters (paracolic sulci, paracolic recesses) are peritoneal recesses – spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.
Structure
There are two paracolic gutters:
* The right lateral paracolic gutter.
* The left medial paracolic ...
and the two
paramesenteric gutters
The paramesenteric gutters (paramesenteric recesses or infracolic spaces) are two peritoneal recesses – spaces in the abdominal cavity between the colon and the root of the mesentery. There are two paramesenteric gutters; the left paramesent ...
. There are other smaller recesses including those around the duodenojejunal flexure, cecum, and the sigmoid colon. These gutters are clinically important because they allow a passage for infectious fluids from different compartments of the abdomen. For example; fluid from an infected
appendix
Appendix, or its plural form appendices, may refer to:
__NOTOC__ In documents
* Addendum, an addition made to a document by its author after its initial printing or publication
* Bibliography, a systematic list of books and other works
* Index (pub ...
can track up the right paracolic gutter to the
hepatorenal recess
The hepatorenal recess (subhepatic recess, pouch of Morison or Morison's pouch) is the subhepatic space that separates the liver from the right kidney. As a potential space, the recess is not normally filled with fluid. However, fluid can collect ...
.
The four peritoneal recesses are:
* The left and right
paracolic gutters The paracolic gutters (paracolic sulci, paracolic recesses) are peritoneal recesses – spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.
Structure
There are two paracolic gutters:
* The right lateral paracolic gutter.
* The left medial paracolic ...
.
* The left and right
paramesenteric gutters
The paramesenteric gutters (paramesenteric recesses or infracolic spaces) are two peritoneal recesses – spaces in the abdominal cavity between the colon and the root of the mesentery. There are two paramesenteric gutters; the left paramesent ...
.
See also
*
Hepatorenal recess
The hepatorenal recess (subhepatic recess, pouch of Morison or Morison's pouch) is the subhepatic space that separates the liver from the right kidney. As a potential space, the recess is not normally filled with fluid. However, fluid can collect ...
References
External links
* — "Abdominal Cavity: Peritoneal Gutters" page 1
* — "Abdominal Cavity: Peritoneal Gutters" page 2
* — "Abdominal Cavity: Peritoneal Gutters" page 3
Abdomen
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