Peritoneal recesses
Encyclopedia
Peritoneal recesses are the spaces formed by peritoneum
draping over viscera.
The term refers mainly to four spaces in the abdominal cavity; the two paracolic gutters
and the two paramesenteric gutters
. 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
can track up the right paracolic gutter to the hepatorenal recess.
The four peritoneal recesses are the:
Peritoneum
The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom — it covers most of the intra-abdominal organs — in amniotes and some invertebrates...
draping over viscera.
The term refers mainly to four spaces in the abdominal cavity; the two paracolic gutters
Paracolic gutters
The paracolic gutters are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.There are two paracolic gutters:* The right lateral paracolic gutter.* The left lateral paracolic gutter....
and the two paramesenteric gutters
Paramesenteric gutters
The paramesenteric gutters are two spaces in the abdominal cavity between the colon and the root of the mesentery. There are two paramesenteric gutters; the left paramesenteric gutter and the right paramesenteric gutter.They are also sometimes incorrectly referred to as other paracolic gutters...
. 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
Vermiform appendix
The appendix is a blind-ended tube connected to the cecum , from which it develops embryologically. The cecum is a pouchlike structure of the colon...
can track up the right paracolic gutter to the hepatorenal recess.
The four peritoneal recesses are the:
- The left and right paracolic guttersParacolic guttersThe paracolic gutters are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.There are two paracolic gutters:* The right lateral paracolic gutter.* The left lateral paracolic gutter....
. - The left and right paramesenteric guttersParamesenteric guttersThe paramesenteric gutters are two spaces in the abdominal cavity between the colon and the root of the mesentery. There are two paramesenteric gutters; the left paramesenteric gutter and the right paramesenteric gutter.They are also sometimes incorrectly referred to as other paracolic gutters...
.