Right supramesocolic space
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Clinton Nash had no recorded disclosures.
View Clinton Nash's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresThe right supramesocolic space is an arbitrary subdivision of the supramesocolic space, which lies between the diaphragm and the transverse colon.
Gross anatomy
The right supramesocolic space is separated from the left supramesocolic space by the falciform ligament, and can be divided into three subspaces:
- right subphrenic space
- right subhepatic space (hepatorenal recess)
- lesser sac (omental bursa)
Related pathology
The right supramesocolic space and its subdivisions are usually in continuity with each other and the rest of the peritoneal subspaces, but this continuity is often broken or distorted by inflammatory adhesions.
Postoperative fluid collections from lower abdominal or pelvic surgery and abscesses from the intraperitoneal spread of pelvic infections are more common in subcompartments of the right supramesocolic space than subcompartments of the left supramesocolic space. This is due to the communication between the pelvic peritoneal space and the right supramesocolic spaces via the right paracolic gutter. Conversely, the left paracolic gutter is shallower and the phrenicocolic ligament tends to limit communication between the left paracolic gutter to the left supramesocolic space. However, this ligament is variable in its presence, structure and location and therefore its ability to limit the spread of fluid and infection between the pelvic cavity and left supramesocolic space 1.
Intraperitoneal seeding of pelvic malignancies, particularly ovarian cancers, can also track up the right paracolic gutter to infiltrate the right subhepatic and subphrenic spaces 2.
References
- 1. Tirkes T, Sandrasegaran K, Patel AA, Hollar MA, Tejada JG, Tann M, Akisik FM, Lappas JC. Peritoneal and retroperitoneal anatomy and its relevance for cross-sectional imaging. (2012) Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. 32 (2): 437-51. doi:10.1148/rg.322115032 - Pubmed
- 2. Detection of peritoneal metastases. (2018) Cancer Imaging. 1 (2): 4. doi:10.1102/1470-7330.2001.002 - Pubmed
- 3. Harpreet K. Pannu, Michael Oliphant. The subperitoneal space and peritoneal cavity: basic concepts. (2015) Abdominal Imaging. 40 (7): 2710. doi:10.1007/s00261-015-0429-5 - Pubmed
- 4. Intraperitoneal Spread of Infections. (1976) International urogynecology journal. 27 (3): 1. doi:10.1007/978-1-4757-3955-8_1 - Pubmed
- 5. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. (2018) ISBN: 9780443066849
- 6. John R. Haaga, Daniel Boll. Computed Tomography & Magnetic Resonance Imaging Of The Whole Body E-Book. (2008) ISBN: 9780323076210
- 7. Morton A. Meyers, MD, FACR, FACG, Chusilp Charnsangavej, MD, FSIR, Michael Oliphant. Meyers' Dynamic Radiology of the Abdomen. (2010) ISBN: 9781441959393
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Related articles: Anatomy: Abdominopelvic
- skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis
- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
- spaces of the abdomen and pelvis
- anterior abdominal wall
- posterior abdominal wall
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- hepatobiliary system
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endocrine system
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adrenal gland
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adrenal gland
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urinary system
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kidney
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variants
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- urinary bladder
- urethra
- embryology
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kidney
- male reproductive system
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female reproductive system
- vulva
- vagina
- uterus
- adnexa
- Fallopian tubes
- ovaries
- broad ligament (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- embryology
- blood supply of the abdomen and pelvis
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abdominal aorta
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- celiac artery
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common iliac artery
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internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
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internal pudendal artery
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perineal artery
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