Paracolic Gutters Radiology

It is also known as sulci paracolic and paracolic recesses.

Paracolic gutters radiology.

The left lateral paracolic gutter. There is a multi cystic mass extending from the pelvis along the right paracolic gutter to the upper abdomen. The right paracolic gutter is larger than the left and communicates freely with the right subphrenic space. The paracolic spaces gutters are located lateral to the peritoneal reflections of the left and right sides of the colon fig 8a.

Related radiopaedia articles medical student radiology curriculum. Thus centrally located triangular areas of high attenuation abdominal fluid should prompt a search for intraperitoneal bowel or mesenteric injury 7 8. Fluid in the right paracolic gutter which structure represents the main communication between the upper and lower abdominal compartments reaches morison s pouch and subsequently the right subphrenic space. The paracolic gutters paracolic sulci paracolic recesses are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.

The inframesocolic space also contains paracolic gutters which are peritoneal recesses that are inferolateral extensions of their corresponding inframesocolic spaces on the posterior abdominal wall lateral to the ascending and descending colon respectively. Fluid may sit within the peritoneal space or paracolic gutters or may be interposed between bowel loops or around solid organs e g. This is discussed more fully in chapter 108. Etiologically it means a channel adjacent to the abdominal wall.

There are two paracolic gutters. Between the outer wall of the colon and back side of the abdominal wall there is an open space known as the paracolic gutter. In a supine position gravity causes fluid in the upper abdomen to flow from the left upper quadrant and right paracolic gutter into the right upper quadrant. The paracolic gutters paracolic sulci paracolic recesses are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.

Chief gastrointestinal radiology department of radiologic pathology armed forces institute of pathology washington dc associate professor of radiology uniformed services university of the health sciences bethesda md. Liver or splenic hemorrhage more typically descends peripherally along the paracolic gutters into the pelvis and is not entrapped in interloop spaces. In a male.