Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Retroperitoneal space

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Dorlands /Elsevier
  
s_16/12746619

FMA
  
15080

TA
  
A10.1.01.002

Retroperitoneal space

Latin
  
spatium retroperitoneale

The retroperitoneal space (retroperitoneum) is the anatomical space (sometimes a potential space) in the abdominal cavity behind (retro) the peritoneum. It has no specific delineating anatomical structures. Organs are retroperitoneal if they have peritoneum on their anterior side only. Structures that are not suspended by mesentery in the abdominal cavity and that lie between the parietal peritoneum and abdominal wall are classified as retroperitoneal.

Contents

The retroperitoneum can be further subdivided into the following:

  • Perirenal space
  • Anterior pararenal space
  • Posterior pararenal space

    • Retroperitoneal structures

    Structures that lie behind the peritoneum are termed "retroperitoneal". Organs that were once suspended within the abdominal cavity by mesentery but migrated posterior to the peritoneum during the course of embryogenesis to become retroperitoneal are considered to be secondarily retroperitoneal organs.

  • Primarily retroperitoneal, meaning the structures were retroperitoneal during the entirety of development:
  • urinary
  • adrenal glands
  • kidneys
  • ureter
  • circulatory
  • aorta
  • inferior vena cava
  • digestive
  • esophagus (thoracic part, part inside abdominal cavity is intraperitoneal)
  • rectum (middle third only; upper third is intraperitoneal, lower third is extraperitoneal)
  • Secondarily retroperitoneal, meaning the structures initially were suspended in mesentery and later migrated behind the peritoneum during development:
  • the head, neck, and body of the pancreas (but not the tail, which is located in the splenorenal ligament)
  • the duodenum, except for the proximal first segment, which is intraperitoneal
  • ascending and descending portions of the colon (but not the transverse colon, sigmoid or the cecum)

    • Subdivisions

    Perirenal Space

    Bounded by the anterior and posterior leafs of the renal fascia. It contains the following structures:

  • Adrenal gland
  • Kidney
  • Renal vessels
    • Anterior pararenal space

    Bounded by the posterior layer of peritoneum and the anterior leaf of the renal fascia. It contains the following structures:

  • Pancreas
  • Ascending and descending colon
  • duodenum
    • Posterior pararenal space

    Bounded by the posterior leaf of the renal fascia and the muscles of the posterior abdominal wall. It contains only fat.

    Clinical significance

    Bleeding from a blood vessel or structure in the retroperitoneal such as the aorta or inferior vena cava into the retroperitoneal space can lead to a retroperitoneal hemorrhage.

  • Retroperitoneal fibrosis
  • Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection

    • References

    Retroperitoneal space Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA