Corpus: Peritoneal cavity

The term peritoneal cavity or peritoneal cavity is used to describe the space filled with serous fluid between the peritoneum parietale and peritoneum viscerale.

The peritoneal cavity is part of the abdominal cavity (cavitas abdominalis). It harbours the intraperitoneal abdominal organs.

Due to their spatial arrangement, the abdominal organs, abdominal wall and mesenteries form numerous compartments and gaps or peritoneal pockets which, although part of the peritoneal cavity, have their own names.

...into spaces[Bearbeiten]

• supramesocolic space: cranial to the transverse mesocolon
• inframesocolic space: caudal of the transverse mesocolon
  • left inframesocolic space: left side of the radix mesenterii, medial of the descending colon, cranial of the sigmoid colon
  • right inframesocolic space: on the right side of the radix mesenterii, medial of the ascending colon

...in pockets[Bearbeiten]

• Recessus subphrenicus
• Recessus subhepaticus
• Recessus hepatorenalis
• Bursa omentalis
• Recessus paracolici
• Recessus duodenalis superior
• Recessus duodenalis inferior
• Recessus intersigmoideus
• Recessus retrocaecalis

The individual spaces and recesses are not strictly separated from each other, but are connected to each other. As a result, intraperitoneal fluid collections accumulate at certain predilection sites (Morison pouch, Koller pouch, Douglas space) due to gravity.

The extraperitoneal space located beyond the peritoneum is delimited from the peritoneal cavity.

• 3D model brachial plexus - anatomical situs; Dr Claudia Krebs (Faculty Lead) University of British Columbia