The rectovesical pouch is the pocket that lies between the rectum and the bladder in males in humans and other mammals. It is lined by peritoneum.
| Rectovesical pouch | |
|---|---|
 Median sagittal section of male pelvis. (Rectovesical excavation labeled at center right.) | |
 Male pelvic organs seen from right side. Bladder and rectum distended; relations of peritoneum to the bladder and rectum shown in blue. The arrow points to the rectovesical pouch. | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | excavatio rectovesicalis |
| TA98 | A10.1.02.513M |
| TA2 | 3727 |
| FMA | 14727 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Structure
editThe rectovesical pouch is a space between the rectum and the bladder in men.[1] It lies above the seminal vesicles.[2] It is lined by peritoneum and at its base is the rectoprostatic fascia (Denonvillier's fascia). When a man is upright or supine, it is the lowest part of his peritoneal cavity.[3] It may contain parts of the ileum (lower small intestine) and the sigmoid colon.[2]
In women, the uterus lies between the rectum and the bladder. Therefore, women do not have a rectovesical pouch, but instead have a rectouterine pouch and vesicouterine pouch. After a hysterectomy in women, the remaining peritoneum may be referred to as a rectovesical pouch.[4]
Clinical significance
editWhen a man is upright or supine, the rectovesical pouch is the lowest part of his peritoneal cavity.[3] Because of this, peritoneal fluid and other fluids that enter the peritoneal cavity, including ascites, blood and pus, tend to collect in this pouch.
Additional images
edit-
Median sagittal section of pelvis, showing arrangement of fasciae
-
The peritoneum of the male pelvis
See also
editReferences
edit This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1152 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ Friedman, Lana M.; Tsung, James W. (May 2013). "Extending the Focussed Assessment With Sonography for Trauma Examination in Children". 12 (1). Elsevier: 2–17 – via ResearchGate.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b Jacob, S. (2008). "4 - Abdomen". Human Anatomy. Churchill Livingstone. pp. 71–123. doi:10.1016/B978-0-443-10373-5.50007-5. ISBN 978-0-443-10373-5.
- ^ a b "Colon". Imaging Anatomy: Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis (2nd ed.). Elsevier. 2017. pp. 666–707. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-47781-9.50032-5. ISBN 978-0-323-47781-9.
- ^ "Ureters and Bladder". Imaging Anatomy: Ultrasound (2nd ed.). Elsevier. 2018. pp. 424–433. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-54800-7.50047-7. ISBN 978-0-323-54800-7.
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