The Subperitoneal Space and Peritoneal Cavity: Basic Concepts Harpreet K
ª The Author(s) 2015. This article is published with Abdom Imaging (2015) 40:2710–2722 Abdominal open access at Springerlink.com DOI: 10.1007/s00261-015-0429-5 Published online: 26 May 2015 Imaging The subperitoneal space and peritoneal cavity: basic concepts Harpreet K. Pannu,1 Michael Oliphant2 1Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA 2Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA Abstract The peritoneum is analogous to the pleura which has a visceral layer covering lung and a parietal layer lining the The subperitoneal space and peritoneal cavity are two thoracic cavity. Similar to the pleural cavity, the peri- mutually exclusive spaces that are separated by the toneal cavity is visualized on imaging if it is abnormally peritoneum. Each is a single continuous space with in- distended by fluid, gas, or masses. terconnected regions. Disease can spread either within the subperitoneal space or within the peritoneal cavity to Location of the abdominal and pelvic organs distant sites in the abdomen and pelvis via these inter- connecting pathways. Disease can also cross the peri- There are two spaces in the abdomen and pelvis, the toneum to spread from the subperitoneal space to the peritoneal cavity (a potential space) and the subperi- peritoneal cavity or vice versa. toneal space, and these are separated by the peritoneum (Fig. 1). Regardless of the complexity of development in Key words: Subperitoneal space—Peritoneal the embryo, the subperitoneal space and the peritoneal cavity—Anatomy cavity remain separated from each other, and each re- mains a single continuous space (Figs.
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