Rectovesical pouch
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Alborz Jahangiri had no recorded disclosures.
View Alborz Jahangiri's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosuresRectovesical pouch is the forward reflection of the peritoneum from the middle third of the rectum to the upper part of the bladder in males.
Gross anatomy
The rectovesical pouch is the lowest part of the peritoneal cavity and usually contains loops of small bowel or sigmoid colon. It is 7.5 cm from the anal margins and is a potential space for fluid collection in males.
The extraperitoneal potential space inferior to the rectovesical pouch and anterior to the lower third of the rectum and posterior to the bladder and prostate is called the rectoprostatic space.
Prostate and seminal vesicles are separated from the rectum by the rectoprostatic fascia of Denonvilliers which extends from the floor of the rectovesical pouch down to the apex of the prostate.
The female analog for this space is the rectouterine space, also known as pouch of Douglas or cul-de-sac.
Related pathology
References
- 1. Last's Anatomy: Regional and Applied. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:044304662X. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. FFR(RCSI) SRFRCSI, FRCR MMMRCPIF, FFSEM SJEMBMMRCPIFFRCR. Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging. Saunders Ltd. ISBN:0702029718. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Butler P, Mitchell A, Healy JC. Applied Radiological Anatomy. Cambridge University Press. (2012) ISBN:0521766664. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
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