Retroperitoneum

Infobox Anatomy
Name = Retroperitoneum
Latin = spatium retroperitoneale
GraySubject =
GrayPage =


Caption = Transverse section, showing the relations of the capsule of the kidney. (Peritoneum is labeled at center right.)

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Caption2 = Human kidneys viewed from behind with spine removed
System =
Precursor =
MeshName = Retroperitoneal+Space
MeshNumber = A01.047.025.750
DorlandsPre = s_16
DorlandsSuf = 12746619
The retroperitoneum (adj. retroperitoneal) is the anatomical space in the abdominal cavity behind ("retro") the peritoneum. It has no specific delineating anatomical structures. Organs are retroperitoneal if they only have peritoneum on their anterior side.

Retroperitoneal bleeding, such as from a ruptured aortic aneurysm shows as Grey Turner's sign (flank bruising).

econdarily retroperitoneal organs

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.

Retroperitoneal structures

Structures that lie behind the peritoneum are termed "retroperitoneal". These include:

* Primarily retroperitoneal:
** urinary
*** adrenal glands
*** kidneys
*** ureter
*** bladder
** circulatory
*** aorta
*** inferior vena cava
** digestive
*** esophagus (part)
*** rectum
** Reproductive
***uterus

* Secondarily retroperitoneal:
** the head and neck of the pancreas (but not the tail)cite book |author=Kyung Won, PhD. Chung |title=Gross Anatomy (Board Review) |publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |location=Hagerstown, MD |year=2005 |pages=256 |isbn=0-7817-5309-0 |oclc= |doi=]
** the duodenum, except for the proximal first segmentcite book |author=K. L. Moore, A. F. Dalley, A. M. R. Agur |title=Clinically Oriented Anatomy |publisher= Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |location=Hagerstown, MD |year=2005 |pages=1209 |isbn=0781736390 |oclc= |doi=]
** ascending and descending portions of the colon (but not the transverse or sigmoid)

A useful mnemonic to aid recollection of the abdominal retroperitoneal viscera is SAD PUCKER:
* S = Suprarenal glands (aka the adrenal glands)
* A = Aorta/IVC
* D = Duodenum (except for its first portion)
* P = Pancreas
* U = Ureters
* C = Colon (only the ascending and descending branches)
* K = Kidneys
* E = Esophagus
* R = Rectum

Another mnemonic to aid recollection of the abdominal retroperitoneal viscera: Ursula Uses Kids to Deliver All Lemon Pies except Sue’s Tasty Crust
* Ureters
* Urinary bladder
* Kidneys
* Duodenum
* Adrenal glands
* Large intestine
* Pancreas
* EXCEPT (not retroperitoneal)
** Sigmoid
** Transverse
** Colon

Role in disease

* Retroperitoneal fibrosis
* Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection

References