Manuals - sample chapters

The retroperitoneum is an extraperitoneal space situated ventral to the vertebrae and paraspinal muscles; it extends along the length of the entire abdomen from the diaphragm to the anus. The lateral boundaries are the abdominal and pelvic walls. The ventral boundary is the dorsal parietal peritoneum. Therefore, conditions affecting the peritoneum may spare the retroperitoneum. Organs that project freely into the abdominal, pelvic or scrotal cavities with an almost complete covering of peritoneum are considered to be intraperitoneal. However, those organs situated close to the walls of the abdominal or pelvic cavities and covered on one side only by peritoneum are considered to be retroperitoneal. Some of these organs are too small to be seen, whilst others are commonly seen on radiographs because they are surrounded by fat. Normal retroperitoneum; Ultrasonography; Overview of additional imaging modalities; and Retroperitoneal diseases are all addressed in this section.