Peritoneal spaces

Peritoneal spaces are separate compartments within the peritoneal cavity.

Gross anatomy

These spaces are separated or compartmentalized by various peritoneal ligaments and their attachments. 

The peritoneal cavity can be divided into the following spaces:

• supramesocolic space: 

  • right supramesocolic space

    • right subphrenic space

    • anterior right subhepatic space

    • posterior right subhepatic space (Morison pouch)

    • lesser sac

  • left supramesocolic space

    • left ​subhepatic space

      • anterior left subhepatic space

      • posterior left subhepatic space

    • left subphrenic space

      • anterior left subphrenic space

      • posterior left subphrenic (perisplenic) space

• inframesocolic space

  • right inframesocolic space

  • left inframesocolic space

  • right and left paracolic gutters

• pelvic spaces

  • paravesical spaces

  • rectovesical pouch

  • rectouterine space (pouch of Douglas): in females

Development

In the developing embryo, mesentery divides the coelomic cavity into right and left halves. It suspends developing liver, stomach, spleen, and pancreas in the midline from ventral to dorsal fashion ². The liver suspends within the ventral mesentery while the spleen suspends within the dorsal mensentery ².

As the embyro continues to grow, these organs migrate in an anticlockwise direction. The developing liver migrates to the right side while the spleen migrates to the left side. Above the transverse mesolon, the right coelomic cavity becomes the perihepatic space and the lesser sac, while the left coelomic cavity becomes the left subphrenic space ².

The ventral mesentery give rise to several ligaments e.g. falciform ligament, gastrohepatic ligament, and hepaticoduodenal ligament. The dorsal mesentery give rise to ligaments such as gastrophrenic, gastrosplenic, splenorenal, phrenicocolic ligament, and gastrocolic ligaments ². The dorsal mesentery also give rise to small bowel mesentery, transverse mesocolon, and sigmoid mesocolon ².

Related pathology

The peritoneal spaces are important in peritoneal diseases, ascites, intraperitoneal collections or peritoneal metastases.