Pararectal fossa

The pararectal fossa (or pararectal pouch) is an inferior-ward extension of the peritoneum on either side of the rectum. It is formed by a (sacrogenital) fold of peritoneum extending inferiorly (downwards) from the posterolateral pelvic wall. It represents a lateral extension of the rectouterine pouch in the female, and of rectovesical pouch in the male.^[1] It varies in size with the distension of the rectum.^{[citation needed]}

Pararectal fossa
The peritoneum of the male pelvis. (Pararectal fossa visible at center left.)
Female pelvis and its contents, seen from above and in front. (Pararectal fossa labeled at bottom left.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	fossa pararectalis
TA98	A10.1.02.514
TA2	3728
FMA	19749
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

In females, the pararectal fossae often represent the inferior-most portion of the peritoneal cavity (sometimes, the inferior-most portion is instead rectouterine pouch).^[2]

External links

• Anatomy photo:43:02-0402 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Female Pelvis: Distribution of the Peritoneum in the Female Pelvis"