Posterior right subhepatic space
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Balaji Vasu had no recorded disclosures.
View Balaji Vasu's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Arlene Campos had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Arlene Campos's current disclosures- Subhepatic recess
- Morison pouch
- Hepatorenal pouch
- Morison's pouch
- Hepatorenal fossa
- Hepatorenal recess
The posterior right subhepatic space (also known as the hepatorenal fossa or Morison's pouch) separates the liver from the right kidney. It is a potential space that is not filled with any fluid in normal conditions.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
The posterior right subhepatic space is a subcompartment of the supramesocolic space and is separated from the anterior right subhepatic space by the transverse mesocolon.
Boundaries
anterior: right hepatic lobe and gallbladder
posterior: superior aspect right kidney; right adrenal gland; second part of the duodenum; hepatic flexure; pancreatic head
inferior: transverse mesocolon
superior: closed by the inferior layer of the coronary ligament and the right triangular ligament
Communications
The posterior right subhepatic space communicates with the right subphrenic space and right paracolic gutter. The posterior right subhepatic space communicates with the lesser sac via the epiploic foramen (foramen of Winslow).
History and etymology
Named after James Rutherford Morison (1843-1939), British surgeon 4.
Related pathology
Fluid (e.g. ascites or haemoperitoneum) accumulates here as it is one of the lowest dependent spaces in the peritoneal cavity. It is also a preferential site for metastases and abscesses.
References
- 1. Paul Butler. Applied Radiological Anatomy. (1999) ISBN: 9780521481106 - Google Books
- 2. William E. Brant, Clyde A. Helms. Fundamentals of Diagnostic Radiology. (2012) ISBN: 9781608319114 - Google Books
- 3. Tirkes T, Sandrasegaran K, Patel A et al. Peritoneal and Retroperitoneal Anatomy and Its Relevance for Cross-Sectional Imaging. Radiographics. 2012;32(2):437-51. doi:10.1148/rg.322115032 - Pubmed
- 4. Stuart Currie, Steven Kennish, Karen Flood. Essential Radiological Anatomy for the MRCS. (2009) ISBN: 9780521728089 - Google Books
Incoming Links
- Ascites
- Dropped appendicolith
- Ruptured ovarian cyst
- Retained gallstone
- Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) scan
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Anterior right subhepatic space
- Right supramesocolic space
- Right subhepatic space
- Kidneys
- Supramesocolic space
- Peritoneal spaces
- Doge cap sign (pneumoperitoneum)
- Normal appendix in Morison's pouch
- Acute subhepatic appendicitis
- Omental infarction - toddler
- Complicated Crohn disease
- Renal hydatid cyst - paediatric
- Trace abdominal free fluid
- Hepatic and peritoneal hydatid cysts
- Hypoperfusion complex with enhancing spleen
- Bilateral renal cortical calcification
- Retained gallstone
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