What is the anatomy of the pelvic peritoneal cavity?
The pelvic peritoneal cavity can be divided into paravesical and rectovesical spaces. The paravesical space is further subdivided into the supravesical space (located superior to the bladder and medial to the medial umbilical folds), the medial inguinal fossae (located lateral to the medial umbilical folds and medial to the lateral umbilical folds), and the lateral inguinal fossae (located lateral to the lateral umbilical folds). The median umbilical fold of parietal peritoneum is located anteriorly in the midline adjacent to the obliterated urachus (also called the median umbilical ligament), whereas the paired medial umbilical folds of parietal peritoneum are adjacent to the obliterated umbilical arteries (also called the medial umbilical ligaments) and the paired lateral umbilical folds of parietal peritoneum are adjacent to the inferior epigastric vessels.
In men, the rectovesical space is located between the rectum and the bladder. In women, the rectovesical space is further subdivided into the vesicouterine space (located between the uterus and bladder) and the rectouterine pouch of Douglas (located between the uterus and rectum).
