Retroperitoneum 534675 219521716 2008-06-15T17:02:12Z 81.178.75.190 Cancer fact seemed out of place. Since there is no section within this page about retroperineal cancer I have removed the line. {{Infobox Anatomy | Name = {{PAGENAME}} | Latin = spatium retroperitoneale | GraySubject = | GrayPage = | Image = Gray1126.png | Caption = Transverse section, showing the relations of the capsule of the kidney. | Image2 = Kidneys from behind.jpg | 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 behind (''retro'') the [[abdominal cavity]]. 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). ==Secondarily 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 gland]]s *** [[kidney]]s *** [[ureter]] *** [[Urinary bladder|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 of pancreas|tail]])<ref name="isbn0-7817-5309-0">{{cite book |author=Kyung Won, PhD. Chung |title=Gross Anatomy (Board Review) |publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |location=Hagerstwon, MD |year=2005 |pages=256 |isbn=0-7817-5309-0 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> ** the second and third portions of the [[duodenum]] (but not the first or fourth)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.med.mun.ca/anatomyts/digest/postab.htm |title=The Posterior Abdominal Wall |accessdate=2007-11-17 |format= |work=}}</ref> ** ascending and descending portions of the [[colon (anatomy)|colon]] (but not the transverse or sigmoid) This one is all the abdominal retroperitoneal viscera: '''U'''rsula '''U'''ses '''K'''ids to '''D'''eliver '''A'''ll '''L'''emon '''P'''ies except '''S'''ue’s '''T'''asty '''C'''rust * '''U'''reters * '''U'''rinary bladder * '''K'''idneys * '''D'''uodenum * '''A'''drenal glands * '''L'''arge intestine * '''P'''ancreas * '''EXCEPT''' (not retroperitoneal) ** '''S'''igmoid ** '''T'''ransverse ** '''C'''olon ==Role in disease== * [[Retroperitoneal fibrosis]] * [[Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection]] ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Torso general}} [[Category:Physiology]] [[de:Retroperitonealraum]] [[hu:Retroperitoneum]] [[nl:Retroperitoneum]] [[pt:Retroperitônio]] [[ru:Межпозвоночная грыжа]] [[sk:Retroperitoneum]]