What is in the paracolic gutter?

The right paracolic gutter is a relatively wide space between the ascending colon and the lateral abdominal wall. It is in continuity with the right subphrenic space and continues cranially lateral to the liver to the right hemidiaphragm.

What is the left paracolic gutter?

The left paracolic gutter is a component of the left inframesocolic space partially separated from the left subphrenic spaces by the phrenicocolic ligament. It is smaller than the right paracolic gutter. Both paracolic spaces are in continuity with the pelvic peritoneal spaces.

How paracolic gutters are formed?

The right (lateral) paracolic gutter runs from the superolateral aspect of the hepatic flexure of the colon, down the lateral aspect of the ascending colon, and around the caecum. It is continuous with the peritoneum as it descends into the pelvis over the pelvic brim.

Where is left paracolic gutter?

The right and left paracolic gutters are peritoneal recesses on the posterior abdominal wall lying alongside the ascending and descending colon. The main paracolic gutter lies lateral to the colon on each side.

What is paracolic gutter ascites?

Ascites is the most common abnormality of the peritoneal cavity. Fluid tends to distribute itself in the paracolic gutters, subhepatic and subphrenic spaces as well as between leaves of the mesentery.

Where are the paracolic gutters?

What is retroperitoneum and peritoneum?

The area in the back of the abdomen behind the peritoneum (the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in the abdomen). The organs in the retroperitoneum include the adrenal glands, aorta, kidneys, esophagus, ureters, pancreas, rectum, and parts of the stomach and colon.

What is the omentum?

The omentum, a sheet of fatty tissue, often wraps itself around the inflamed appendix, and an exudate that normally develops in the areas of inflammation behaves like glue and seals off the appendix from the surrounding peritoneal cavity.

Where is paracolic located?