Right subphrenic space
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Dr Nivantha Dematawa had no recorded disclosures.
View Dr Nivantha Dematawa's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Ben Chan had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Ben Chan's current disclosuresThe right subphrenic space (a.k.a. right anterior space, right subdiaphragmatic space) is a potential space between the liver's right lobe and the diaphragm's inferior surface.
Gross anatomy
The space is a subcompartment of the supracolic compartment. It reaches the upper boundary of the bare area of the liver.
The right subphrenic space is incompletely separated from the left subphrenic space by the falciform ligament 5.
Boundaries
superiorly: superior layer of the coronary ligament
laterally: right triangular ligament
medially: falciform ligament
inferiorly: continuous with the right supramesocolic space
Communications
The right subphrenic space communicates with the right paracolic gutter laterally, and inferiorly with the right subhepatic space.
Related pathology
Intraperitoneal seeding of pelvic malignancies, particularly ovarian cancers, can occur in the right subphrenic and subhepatic spaces by transcoelomic spread up through the right paracolic gutter 1. Likewise, the right paracolic gutter also acts as a conduit for pelvic infections to track up into the right subphrenic and subhepatic spaces 2. Right subphrenic abscesses are often secondary to intra-abdominal sepsis (e.g. peritonitis, ruptured liver abscess, ruptured appendicular abscess), and may have an acute or chronic course. Gas accumulation within the space in a case of ruptured hollow viscera can be demonstrated radiologically as free subdiaphragmatic gas.
References
- 1. Healy J. Detection of Peritoneal Metastases. Cancer Imaging. 2001;1(2):4-12. doi:10.1102/1470-7330.2001.002 - Pubmed
- 2. Pannu H & Oliphant M. The Subperitoneal Space and Peritoneal Cavity: Basic Concepts. Abdom Imaging. 2015;40(7):2710-22. doi:10.1007/s00261-015-0429-5 - Pubmed
- 3. Richard Drake, A. Wayne Vogl, Adam W. M. Mitchell. Gray's Basic Anatomy E-Book. (2016) ISBN: 9780323508506 - Google Books
- 4. Robert M. H. McMinn. Last's Anatomy. (2019) ISBN: 9780729543576 - Google Books
- 5. Stephanie Ryan, Michelle McNicholas, Stephen J. Eustace. Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging. (2011) Page 211. ISBN: 9780702029714 - Google Books
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