FACTS & HINTS

High-Yield Facts

Clinical Points

Peritoneal Reflections Pelvic peritoneum

Lines lateral and posterior pelvic walls and pelvic floor

Covers the rectum, urinarybladder, uterus, and adnexa in the female

Covers the anterior and lateral surfaces of the upper portion of the rectum in both sexes

In men:

Sweeps forward from the rectum to the bladder

Creates a recess between the rectum and the bladder: the rectovesical pouch

Continues over the superior surface of the bladder and ascends on the internal side of the anterior abdominal wall

In women:

Sweeps forward from the rectum onto the posterior fornixof the uterus and the posterior uterine wall

Creates a recess between the rectum and the uterus: the rectouterine pouch (of Douglas)

Covers the posterior, superior and anterior surfaces of the uterus before reflecting onto the superior surface of the bladder

Ascends on the internal side of the anterior abdominal wall

Fluid (blood, pus) can collect in the rectovesical or rectouterine pouches causing an infection and forming pelvic abscesses.

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