Peritoneal recesses

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Peritoneal recesses
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Diagram devised by Delépine to show the lines along which the peritoneum leaves the wall of the abdomen to invest the viscera.
Anatomical terminology

Peritoneal recesses (or peritoneal gutters) are the spaces formed by peritoneum draping over viscera. [1]

Contents

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:

Duodenal recesses

To the left side of the duodenojejunal flexure, recesses or fossae may be created by peritoneal folds. [2]

The paraduodenal recess proper is situated posterior to the superior extremity of the inferior mesenteric vein. This paraduodenal recess is clinically and surgically important: an internal hernia protruding into the recess may obstruct the inferior mesenteric vein or cause a thrombus to form within it, and the vein may be sectioned during surgical repair of such a hernia. [2]

A superior and an inferior duodenal recess may be created by horizontal peritoneal folds. [2]

A retroduodenal recess may occur posterior to the duodenojejunal flexure. [2]

The small intestine may herniate (a condition known as an "internal hernia") into these recesses, and such hernias may then strangulate. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mesentery</span> Contiguous fold of tissues that supports the intestines

In human anatomy, the mesentery, an organ that attaches the intestines to the posterior abdominal wall, comprises the double fold of the peritoneum. It helps in storing fat and allowing blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves to supply the intestines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rectouterine pouch</span> Human female anatomical structure

The rectouterine pouch is the extension of the peritoneum into the space between the posterior wall of the uterus and the rectum in the human female.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celiac artery</span> First major branch of the abdominal aorta

The celiacartery, also known as the celiac trunk or truncus coeliacus, is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta. It is about 1.25 cm in length. Branching from the aorta at thoracic vertebra 12 (T12) in humans, it is one of three anterior/ midline branches of the abdominal aorta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superior mesenteric artery</span> Artery which supplies blood to the intestines and pancreas

In human anatomy, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is an artery which arises from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta, just inferior to the origin of the celiac trunk, and supplies blood to the intestine from the lower part of the duodenum through two-thirds of the transverse colon, as well as the pancreas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inferior mesenteric artery</span> Branch of the abdominal aorta supplying part of the large intestine

In human anatomy, the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) is the third main branch of the abdominal aorta and arises at the level of L3, supplying the large intestine from the distal transverse colon to the upper part of the anal canal. The regions supplied by the IMA are the descending colon, the sigmoid colon, and part of the rectum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inferior mesenteric vein</span> Vein which drains blood from the large intestine

In human anatomy, the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) is a blood vessel that drains blood from the large intestine. It usually terminates when reaching the splenic vein, which goes on to form the portal vein with the superior mesenteric vein (SMV).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesser omentum</span> Double layer of peritoneum in the abdomen

The lesser omentum is the double layer of peritoneum that extends from the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach, and to the first part of the duodenum. The lesser omentum is usually divided into these two connecting parts: the hepatogastric ligament, and the hepatoduodenal ligament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inferior epigastric artery</span> Blood vessel

In human anatomy, the inferior epigastric artery is an artery that arises from the external iliac artery. It is accompanied by the inferior epigastric vein; inferiorly, these two inferior epigastric vessels together travel within the lateral umbilical fold The inferior epigastric artery then traverses the arcuate line of rectus sheath to enter the rectus sheath, then anastomoses with the superior epigastric artery within the rectus sheath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conjoint tendon</span> Medial part of the posterior wall of the inguinal canal

also known as superior tendon of abdominal cavity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle colic artery</span> Artery supplying the colon

The middle colic artery is an artery of the abdomen; a branch of the superior mesenteric artery distributed to parts of the ascending and transverse colon. It usually divides into two terminal branches - a left one and a right one - which go on to form anastomoses with the left colic artery, and right colic artery (respectively), thus participating in the formation of the marginal artery of the colon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Left colic artery</span> Artery

The left colic artery is a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery distributed to the descending colon, and left part of the transverse colon. It ends by dividing into an ascending branch and a descending branch; the terminal branches of the two branches go on to form anastomoses with the middle colic artery, and a sigmoid artery (respectively).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colic flexures</span> Two abrupt bends in the large intestine

In the anatomy of the human digestive tract, there are two colic flexures, or curvatures in the transverse colon. The right colic flexure is also known as the hepatic flexure, and the left colic flexure is also known as the splenic flexure. Note that "right" refers to the patient's anatomical right, which may be depicted on the left of a diagram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater omentum</span> Fat sheath under abdominal wall

The greater omentum is a large apron-like fold of visceral peritoneum that hangs down from the stomach. It extends from the greater curvature of the stomach, passing in front of the small intestines and doubles back to ascend to the transverse colon before reaching to the posterior abdominal wall. The greater omentum is larger than the lesser omentum, which hangs down from the liver to the lesser curvature. The common anatomical term "epiploic" derives from "epiploon", from the Greek epipleein, meaning to float or sail on, since the greater omentum appears to float on the surface of the intestines. It is the first structure observed when the abdominal cavity is opened anteriorly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duodenojejunal flexure</span> Border between the duodenum and the jejunum

The duodenojejunal flexure or duodenojejunal junction, also known as the angle of Treitz, is the border between the duodenum and the jejunum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suspensory ligament of ovary</span> Part of human anatomy

The suspensory ligament of the ovary, also infundibulopelvic ligament, is a fold of peritoneum that extends out from the ovary to the wall of the pelvis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lateral umbilical fold</span>

The lateral umbilical fold is an elevation of the peritoneum lining the inner/posterior surface of the lower anterior abdominal wall formed by the underlying inferior epigastric artery and inferior epigastric vein which the peritoneum covers. Superiorly, the lateral umbilical fold ends where the vessels reach and enter the rectus sheath at the arcuate line of rectus sheath; in spite of the name, the lateral umbilical folds do not extend as far superiorly as the umbilicus. Inferiorly, it extends to just medial to the deep inguinal ring.

The paracolic gutters are peritoneal recesses – spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gastrosplenic ligament</span> Ligament between stomach and spleen

The gastrosplenic ligament is part of the greater omentum extending between the stomach and the spleen. It contains several blood vessels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omental foramen</span> Part of the human abdomen

In human anatomy, the omental foramen is the passage of communication, or foramen, between the greater sac, and the lesser sac of the peritoneal cavity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramesenteric gutters</span>

The paramesenteric gutters 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 paramesenteric gutter and the right paramesenteric gutter.

References

  1. "7. Male pelvis MRI #2, midsagittal plane". Radiology Atlas. SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Sinnatamby CS, Last RJ (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 254. ISBN   978-0-7295-3752-0.
  3. Nandagopalan PA, Job C, Prasanna MB (November 2016). "Peritoneal Recesses of Human Duodenum". Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 10 (11): AJ01 –AJ02. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/20395.8829. PMC   5198309 . PMID   28050356.