Diagnostic Ultrasound - Abdomen and Pelvis

Peritoneal Spaces and Structures
INFRAMESOCOLIC SPACE
Anatomy: Abdomen
Fluid in inframesocolic space
Small bowel loops with intraluminal air
and fluid
Ascites
Urinary bladder
Urinary bladder wall
Small bowel
Fluid in rectovesical pouch
Rectum
Bowel
Fluid in pelvic cavity
Urinary bladder with Foley catheter
Vesicouterine pouch
Fluid in rectouterine space/pouch of
Douglas
Uterus
(Top) Transverse transabdominal ultrasound of the central abdomen reveals moderate to large ascites with floating small bowel loops.
The left inframesocolic space is larger compared to the right and communicates directly with the pelvic cavity. (Middle) Longitudinal
ultrasound of the midline suprapubic region in a male patient demonstrates intraperitoneal fluid between bowel loops and extending
into the dependent rectovesical pouch. There is a distended urinary bladder. (Bottom) Longitudinal grayscale ultrasound of the female
pelvis shows free fluid. The uterus divides the pelvic cavity into the vesicouterine and rectouterine (pouch of Douglas) spaces. In this
case the vesicouterine space contains minimal fluid.
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