Retroperitoneal space

Retroperitoneal space
Retroperitoneal space
	Horizontal plane through the kidneys, showing subdivisions of the retroperitoneal space. The anterior and posterior pararenal spaces have been exaggerated to provide representation of their relation to other retroperitoneal structures.
	Human kidneys viewed from behind with spine removed
Details
Identifiers
Latin	spatium retroperitoneale
MeSH	D012187
TA98	A10.1.01.002
TA2	3814
FMA	15080
	Anatomical terminology

The retroperitoneal space (retroperitoneum) is the anatomical space (sometimes a potential space) behind (retro) the peritoneum. It has no specific delineating anatomical structures. Organs are retroperitoneal if they have peritoneum on their anterior side only. Structures that are not suspended by mesentery in the abdominal cavity and that lie between the parietal peritoneum and abdominal wall are classified as retroperitoneal.^[1]

This is different from organs that are not retroperitoneal, which have peritoneum on their posterior side and are suspended by mesentery in the abdominal cavity.

The retroperitoneum can be further subdivided into the following:^[2]

Perirenal (or perinephric) space
Anterior pararenal (or paranephric) space
Posterior pararenal (or paranephric) space

^ Gray's Anatomy for Students, 2nd Ed. 2010. Pg. 251
^ Ryan, Stephanie; McNicholas, Michelle; Eustace, Stephen (2004). Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging. Sydney: Saunders. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-7020-2620-1.

[1] Gray's Anatomy for Students, 2nd Ed. 2010. Pg. 251

[isbn978-0-7020-2620-1-2] Ryan, Stephanie; McNicholas, Michelle; Eustace, Stephen (2004). Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging. Sydney: Saunders. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-7020-2620-1.

[1]

[2]