The document summarizes normal retroperitoneal and abdominal wall anatomy. It describes the three compartments of the retroperitoneum - the anterior pararenal space, perirenal space, and posterior pararenal space. It also discusses the potential intraperitoneal spaces, including the supramesocolic space (divided into right and left spaces), inframesocolic space, and pelvic spaces. Key organs in the retroperitoneum like the kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, and parts of the colon and duodenum are also described.
3. Learning Objectives
1. Understand Retroperitoneum and Abdl wall
anatomy.
2. Normal appearance of the various compartments
and recess.
3. To illustrate and describe the different types of
Intraperitoneal space and their imaging
features on CT.
4. Background
Bounded anteriorly by the posterior parietal peritoneum and
posteriorly by the transversalis fascia, and extends from the
diaphragm superiorly to the linea terminalis of the lesser pelvis
inferiorly.
8. Anterior Pararenal Space
• Between the posterior parietal peritoneum
and the anterior renal fascia
• Boundaries:
– Anterior – Parietal Peritoneum
– Posterior – Anterior Renal Fascia
– Lateral – Conal Fascia
9. Anterior Pararenal Space
• Organs:
1. Pancreas
2. Duodenal Loop
3. Ascending Colon
4. Descending Colon
Anterior Pararenal Space
11. Perirenal Space
• Anterior Renal Fascia – one layer of
connective tissue
• Posterior Renal Fascia – two layers of
connective tissue
– Anterior layer of Posterior Renal Fascia is
continuous with the Anterior Renal Fascia
– Posterior layer of Posterior Renal Fascia is
continuous with Lateroconal Fascia
Perirenal Space
12. Perirenal Space
• Bridging septum – between the renal fascia
and the renal capsule
– Can cause loculations of fluid processes in the
perirenal space
• Right Perirenal Space – open superiorly to the
bare area of the liver
Perirenal Space
16. Posterior Pararenal Space
• A potential space
• Usually filled only with fat
• Boundaries:
1. Anterior - Posterior Renal Fascia
2. Posterior - Transversalis Fascia
• Limited medially by the lateral edges of the
psoas and quadratus lumborum muscles
18. Pancreas
• Elongated, soft, grayish-pink digestive gland
• Located inferior to the transpyloric plane
• Posterior to the stomach
• Transverse mesocolon attached to its anterior
margin
• Located in the epigastric and left
hypochondriac regions
19. Pancreas
• Parts:
1. Head – embraced by the curve of the duodenum
– Rests against the IVC posteriorly
2. Neck – grooved posteriorly
– Adjacent to pylorus of the stomach
3. Body – triangular in cross-section
– Between celiac trunk and SMA
3. Tail – end usually contacts the hilum of spleen
Pancreas
20. Pancreatic Duct
• Main Pancreatic Duct – begins at the tail of
the pancreas and runs through the gland
• Accessory Pancreatic Duct – variable; usually
connected to the main pancreatic duct
• Ampulla of Vater – pancreatic duct + bile duct
21. Pancreatic Duct
• ERCP provides visualization of the pancreatic
duct
• MRCP – noninvasive method of imaging the
pancreatic duct
– Secretin injection increases pancreatic secretions
and improve visualization of the pancreatic duct
Pancreatic Duct
27. Duodenal Loop
• Descending (second) part and Horizontal
(third) part of the duodenum are
retroperitoneal
• Descending – to the right and parallel to IVC
• Horizontal – anterior to IVC, aorta and IMA
• High quality Upper GI Series
29. Ascending Colon
• 12 cm to 20 cm in length
• Ascends on the right side of the abdominal
cavity
• Cecum to right lobe of the liver
• Right colic (hepatic) flexure – where the
ascending colon turns to the left
• Separated from anterior abdominal wall by
coils of small intestine and greater omentum
30. Ascending Colon
• Right Paracolic Gutter – trench or groove at
the lateral side of the ascending colon
– Depth of this groove – how much gas the
ascending colon contains
– Passageway of fluid from the right
hepatorenal recess to the rectouterine and/or
rectovesical pouch
Ascending Colon
31. Descending Colon
• 20 cm to 30 cm in length
• Descends from the left colic flexure to the left
iliac fossa
• Continuous with the sigmoid colon
• Passes anterior to the lateral border of the left
kidney
• Caliber is smaller than ascending colon
32. Colon
• CT Colonography – for polyp and cancer
detection
• Single Contrast Barium Enema – for intestinal
obstruction
• Double Contrast Barium Enema – for
detection of small lesions and inflammatory
bowel
• CT – demonstrate intramural and extracolonic
components
34. Kidneys
• Lie in the paravertebral gutters at the level of
T12 to L3 vertebrae
• Moves about 3cm in vertical direction during
movement of diaphragm
• Ureter runs inferiorly from each kidney
• Lies in a mass of perirenal fat
• Posterior to peritoneum
• On the posterior abdominal wall
35. Kidneys
• Superior – protected by thoracic cage
• Superior poles near median plane
• Right lower than left
• Left slightly longer than right
• Lateral – convex
• Medial – concave; where renal sinus and renal
pelvis are located
Kidneys
36. Kidneys
• Renal Hilum – vertical cleft at the concave part
of the kidney; lies in transpyloric plane
• Renal Sinus – occupied by renal pelvis, calices,
renal vessels and nerves
Kidneys
41. Adrenal Glands
• Superior to the kidneys
• Enclosed within a fatty capsule and enveloped
by renal fascia
• Shape and relations differ from both sides
• Consist of cortex and medulla
42. Adrenal Glands
• CT- usually the imaging modality of choice in
adults
• MR – provide high quality images of adrenal
lesions
• Ultrasound – excellent for screening the
adrenal glands in infants and children
Adrenal Glands
49. Posterior Pararenal Space
Smallest and most clinically insignificant
portion of the retroperitoneum
Filled with fat, blood vessels and
lymphatics, but contains no major organs
Rarely subject to involvement in disease
processes except where spread is from
adjacent structures
51. Intraperitoneal Spaces
Separate compartments within the peritoneal cavity.
Separated or compartmentalized by
various peritoneal ligaments and their attachments.
Significant in the peritoneal
diseases, ascites, intraperitoneal collections or
peritoneal metastasis.
54. Intraperitoneal Spaces
1. Supramesocolic Space
2. Inframesocolic Space
3. Pelvic Spaces
1. R Inframesocolic Space
2. L Inframesocolic Space
3. R And L Para-colic
Gutters
55. Intraperitoneal Spaces
1. Supramesocolic Space
2. Inframesocolic Space
3. Pelvic Spaces
1. Para-vesical Spaces
2. Rectovesical Pouch
3. Rectouterine Pouch (Pouch
Of Douglas): In Females
56. Intraperitoneal Spaces
Supramesocolic Space Intraperitoneal space above the
root of the transverse mesocolon
Arbitrarily divided into R and L spaces
and subspaces
These are normally
in communication with each other, but
may become separated by
inflammatory membranes or disease.
Subphrenic space is divided into R and
L by the falciform ligament.
57. Intraperitoneal Spaces
RIGHT SUPRAMESOCOLIC
SPACE
1. R Subphrenic Space
2. Ant. R Subhepatic
Space
3. Post. R Subhepatic
Space (Morison
Pouch)
LEFT SUPRAMESOCOLIC
SPACE
1. Ant. L Perihepatic
Space
2. Post. L Perihepatic
Space
3. Ant. L Subphrenic
Space
4. Post. L Subphrenic
(Perisplenic) Space
58.
59.
60.
61. Intra-peritoneal space below
the root of the transverse
mesocolon.
The supramesocolic space lies
above the transverse
mesocolon's root.
Contains the paracolic gutters are
peritoneal recesses on the Post. abdl wall
Lat. to the Asc and Desc. colon.
Inframesocolic Space
Intraperitoneal Spaces
62. R paracolic gutter is continuous
superiorly with the R
subhepatic and subphrenic
spaces.
Larger than the L paracolic gutter, which is
partially separated from the L subphrenic
spaces by the phrenicolic ligament.
Inframesocolic Space
Intraperitoneal Spaces
Both paracolic spaces are in continuity
with the pelvic peritoneal spaces.
63. R inframesocolic space
- Smaller than its counterpart.
Bounded
SUP: Transverse colon
To the right: Root of the Small
Bowel Mesentery.
Inframesocolic Space
Intraperitoneal Spaces
L inframesocolic space
- Larger of the two compartments and is in free
communication with the pelvic peritoneal space on
the right of the midline.
- The sigmoid colon and its associated mesentery
form a partial barrier on the left of the midline.
64.
65.
66. Intraperitoneal Spaces
Pelvic Space Inf. reflection of the peritoneum over
the fundus of the urinary
bladder and the front of the rectum at
the junction of its middle and lower
thirds
In females, the reflection is also over the Ant. and
Post. surface of the uterus and the upper Post.
vagina.
Urinary bladder subdivides the pelvis into R and
L paravesical spaces
67. Intraperitoneal Spaces
Pelvic Space Males there is only 1 potential space
for fluid collection Post. to the bladder,
the rectovesical pouch
In females, the reflection is also over the Ant. and
Post. surface of the uterus and the upper
Post. vagina.
Females there are 2 potential spaces Post to the
bladder, the uterovesical pouch, and Post. to the
uterus the deeper rectouterine pouch (Pouch of
Douglas).
These are two normal variations of the retroperitoneal spaces. In A, the descending colon is entirely retroperitoneal, while in B, the peritoneum forms a deep pocket lateral to the colon,
But can become huge when filed with fluid.
Diseases in the anterior pararenal space usually originates from these organs. Examples are pancreatitis, perforated ulcers and diverticulitis.
This forms the boundary of the anterior pararenal space.
The anterior and posterior layers of the posterior renal fascia may be separated by inflammatory processes, such as pancreatitis.
Fluid collections in the perirenal space are usually renal in origin.
This allows the spread of disease processes such as infection and tumor between the kidney and the liver.
Isolated fluid collections are rare and most commonly caused by spontaneous hemorrhage into the psoas muscle as a result of anticoagulation therapy
Radiograph from endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram demonstrates main duct of Wirsung (black arrows) and accessory duct of Santorini (white arrows)
Because the gland is not encapsulated
Ultrasound image of Normal pancreas
CT Image of a normal pancreas. Majority lies anterior to the splenic vein,
This shows pancreatic calcifications, extending upward across the left upper quadrant.
A high quality upper GI Series provides excellent visualization of the duodenum together with the stomach
The descending duodenum is faintly outlined by barium in the image.
Double contrast – contrast + air
Upright radiograph Double contrast barium enema demonstrating normal anatomy of the colon
IVP is a traditional method to visualize the kidneys. Ultrasound, CT and MRI provide better images
MDCT with IV Contrast is currently the best tool to detect and evaluate renal tumors. It is a multistage study utilizing thin slices.
Normal excretory urogram taken 5 mins after the contrast has been injected, showing the enhanced renal parenchyma and filled collecting system
Reconstructed image from thin slices of multidetector CT demonstrating renal parenchyma and ureter. The calyces is not as well shown as on a traditional IV pyelogram
Ultrasound image of normal kidneys
Ultrasound image of a normal adrenal gland
This is a CT image of adrenal hyperplasia. Limbs of both adrenal glands are somewhat nodular, somehow enlarged but maintains their normal shape.
largest fat accumulation in the perirenal space is medial to the lower pole of the
kidney; this is the preferential location where abscesses, hematomas and urinomas may
accumulate.
The anterior pararenal space is bounded anteriorly by the posterior parietal peritoneum, posteriorly by the anterior renal fascia (Gerota fascia), and laterally by the lateroconal fascia.
Space is continuous across the midline except for the pancreatic processes, because this organ straddles this space across the midline; because of this many diseases remain localized to one side.
The pancreas, duodenal loop and ascending and descending portions of the colon are within the anterior pararenal space.
Axial view of Retroperitoneal space compartments
Saggital view of Retroperitoneal space compartments
limited anteriorly and medially by the Posterior renal fascia (Zuckerkandl fascia) and Lateroconal fascia, respectively, and posteriorly and laterally by the Transversalis fascia.
the posterior pararenal fat continues into the flank as the properitoneal fat “stripe” seen in plain films of the abdomen. Medially this space is limited by the margin of the psoas muscle and by quadratus lumborus muscles, being parallel to them.
Isolated fluid collections are rare and most commonly caused by spontaneous hemorrhage into the psoas muscle as a result of anticoagulant therapy
Axial views from CT peritoneogram demonstrating peritoneal spaces in the upper abdomen. Correlated with schematic diagram
The right subphrenic space communicates freely with the perihepatic and subhepatic spaces, including Morison's pouch, which communicates with the lesser sac via the epiploic foramen (foramen of Winslow)
Coronal and sagittal view from CT peritoneogram demonstrating upper abdominal peritoneal spaces.
These supramesocolic spaces are preferential sites for peritoneal fluid stasis and therefore are common sites to detect ascites, abcesses and peritoneal spread of metastases
Diagram of an axial cross section of the abdomen illustrates the recesses of the greater
peritoneal cavity and the lesser sac. B. CT scan of a patient with a large amount of ascites nicely demonstrates the recesses of the greater peritoneal
cavity and the lesser sac. The lesser sac is bounded by the stomach ( St ) anteriorly, the pancreas ( P ) posteriorly, and the gastrosplenic ligament
( curved arrow ) laterally. The falciform ligament ( arrowhead ) separates the right and left subphrenic spaces. Fluid from the greater peritoneal
cavity extends into Morison pouch ( arrow ) between the liver and the right kidney. Fluid in the gastrohepatic recess ( asterisk ) separates the
stomach from the liver ( L ). S, spleen; GB, gallbladder; RK, right kidney; IVC, inferior vena cava; Ao, aorta; LK, left kidney
Fig.: Diagram illustrating the omenta, mesenteries and spaces
Lateral to the ascending and descending colons are the right and left paracolic gutters. The right paracolic gutter is continous with the right perihepatic space. Conversely on the left, the phrenicocolic ligament prevents direct communication between the left paracolic gutter and the left subphrenic space.
Coronal CT peritoneogram showing peritoneal spaces
supramesocolic compartments communicates with the inframesocolic
compartments by way of the right paracolic gutter. Free communication
between the left paracolic gutter and left subphrenic space is prevented by
the phrenicocolic ligament.
Sagittal and coronal views from CT peritoneogram demonstrating pelvic peritoneal folds and spaces
The recto-uterine (females) and rectovesical (males) are the most dependent regions within the pelvis resulting in fluid stasis and therefore, these are common sites for abscesses, fluid collections and metastases.
Top right: Sagittal schematic diagram of pelvic peritoneal spaces Bottom left and right: sagittal CT peritoneogram and MR demonstrating the recto-vesical space and rectouterine space, respectively. Top right: sagittal MR demonstrating hydatid disease within this dependent pelvic space.