What is right 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.

Are paracolic gutter intraperitoneal?

The paracolic gutters (paracolic sulci, paracolic recesses) are peritoneal recesses – spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.

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.

Are paracolic gutters retroperitoneal?

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 causes fluid in the paracolic gutter?

In a supine position gravity causes fluid in the upper abdomen to flow from the left upper quadrant and right paracolic gutter into the right upper quadrant. In an upright position, gravity causes this same fluid to flow into the pelvis.

Why is paracolic gutter important?

The left lateral paracolic gutter. 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.

Where is paracolic located?

The paracolic gutters (paracolic sulci, paracolic recesses) are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.

How many liters of blood can the abdominal cavity hide when internal bleeding occurs?

In selected cases, careful observation may be permissible. The abdominal cavity is highly distensible and may easily hold greater than five liters of blood, or more than the entire circulating blood volume for an average-sized individual.

Does retroperitoneal include bladder?

An Abdominal/Retroperitoneal Ultrasound produces a picture of the organs and other structures in the upper abdomen, encompassing the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, aorta, both kidneys and the bladder, through the use of high frequency sound waves that are displayed in a real time image.

What is the difference between the left and right paracolic gutter?

The right paracolic gutter is larger than the left and communicates freely with the right subphrenic space. The connection between the left paracolic gutter and the left subphrenic space is partially limited by the phrenicocolic ligament.

What is the difference between right and left paracolic space?

The right paracolic gutter is a component of the right inframesocolic space continuous superiorly with the right subhepatic and right subphrenic spaces. It is larger than the left paracolic gutter, which is partially separated from the left subphrenic spaces by the phrenicocolic ligament.

What is the paracolic space in the colon?

The paracolic spaces (gutters) are located lateral to the peritoneal reflections of the left and right sides of the colon ( Fig 8a ). The right paracolic gutter is larger than the left and communicates freely with the right subphrenic space.

What are paracolic and supramesocolic?

Paracolic gutters represent peritoneal recesses lateral to the ascending and descending colon. Although both paracolic spaces freely communicate with the pelvis, it is only the larger right paracolic space that communicates with the right supramesocolic space.