| Pararectal fossa | |
|---|---|
 The peritoneum of the male pelvis. (Pararectal fossa visible at center left.) | |
 Female pelvis and its contents, seen from above and in front. (Pararectal fossa labeled at bottom left.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | fossa pararectalis |
| TA98 | A10.1.02.514 |
| TA2 | 3728 |
| FMA | 19749 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The pararectal fossa (or pararectal pouch) is an inferior-ward extension of the peritoneum on either side of the rectum. It is formed by a (sacrogenital) fold of peritoneum extending inferiorly (downwards) from the posterolateral pelvic wall. It represents a lateral extension of the rectouterine pouch in the female, and of rectovesical pouch in the male. [1] It varies in size with the distension of the rectum.[ citation needed ]
In females, the pararectal fossae often represent the inferior-most portion of the peritoneal cavity (sometimes, the inferior-most portion is instead rectouterine pouch). [2]
