Rectovesical pouch | |
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![]() 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 |
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.
The 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]
When 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.