Anatomy (Topographic) · MU Sofia

254. Peritoneal and subperitoneal division of the pelvis.

Explains how the pelvic peritoneal cavity continues from the abdomen and which peritoneal spaces lie within the pelvis, separately for men and women, including the rectouterine and rectovesical pouches, paravesical and pararectal fossae, and the ovarian fossa and fossa of Claudius. Covers the subperitoneal organs and the three plates of the visceral pelvic fascia, and ends with clinical points on fluid collection and access through the posterior vaginal fornix.

Inside: 5 sections · 8 labelled pictures · 16 flashcards · 5 min

Topic 24 of 40 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Anatomy (Topographic) (Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 3 sections, about 744 words (5 min of reading), with 16 flashcards.

In this note

  1. PERITONEAL & SUBPERITONEAL OF THE PELVIC
  2. Organs
  3. Spaces and structures

PERITONEAL & SUBPERITONEAL OF THE PELVIC

The peritoneal cavity of the pelvis is a subcomponent of the peritoneal cavity. Cranially, it fluently continues into the abdominal peritoneum cavity. The linea terminalis pelvis forms the borderline between the pelvic and abdominal parts of the peritoneal cavity. The subperitoneal organs are located below the pelvic peritoneum.

Organs

Sagittal section of the female pelvis

  1. 1 Rectum (aboral one third)
  2. 2 Uterus (cranial majority)
  3. 3 Uterine tube
  4. 4 Ovary
  5. 5 Vagina (posterior fornix)

Spaces and structures

Common in men and women

Frontal section of the male pelvis

  1. 1 Paravesical fossa (fossa paravesicalis)
  • is located lateral to the urinary bladder
  • deepens as the urinary bladder fills
  1. 2 Pararectal fossa (fossa pararectalis)
  • laterally to the rectum

Man:

  1. 3 Rectovesical pouch of Proust (excavatio rectovesicalis)
  • a space between the rectum and urinary bladder
  • the deepest part of the peritoneal cavity in a standing man
  • it touches the seminal glands

Sagittal section of the female pelvis

Woman:

  1. 4 Vesicouterine pouch (excavatio vesicouterina)
  • a space between the uterus and urinary bladder
  1. 5 Rectouterine pouch of Douglas (excavatio rectouterina)
  • a space between the uterus and rectum
  • the deepest part of the peritoneal cavity in a standing woman
  • it touches the posterior fornix of the vagina representing access into this peritoneal space
  1. 6 Broad ligament of uterus (ligamentum latum uteri)
  • a frontally positioned duplication of peritoneum separating the paravesical and pararectal fossae

Female pelvis, anterior view

  1. 7 Ovarian fossa / fossa of Waldeyer (fossa ovarica)
  • a space between the external and internal iliac vessels and the ureteric fold
  • the ovary is located in this space in nulliparous women
  1. 8 Fossa of Claudius
  • a space between the internal iliac vessels and the sacrum, dorsal and caudal to the ovarian fossa
  • the position of the ovary in multiparous women is very variable and may be located here

The subperitoneal space is bordered cranially by the peritoneum and caudally by the pelvic floor. It is continuous with the retroperitoneal space and the spaces of the lower limbs. The walls of the pelvic cavity and the subperitoneal organs are covered by the pelvic fascia. The parietal and visceral layers of the pelvic fascia merge into each other at the tendinous arch of the pelvic fascia.

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