Recto-uterine pouch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Recto-uterine pouch

Sagittal section of the lower part of a female trunk, right segment. (Excavatio recto-uterina labeled at bottom right.)

Median sagittal section of female pelvis. (Rectouterine excavation labeled at center left.)

Latin

excavatio rectouterina, cavum douglassi, fossa douglasi

Gray's

subject #246 1152

MeSH

Douglas'+Pouch

The rectouterine pouch (or rectouterine excavation, rectovaginal, Ehrhardt-Cole Recess, cul-desac or Pouch of Douglas) is the extension of the peritoneal cavitybetween the rectum and the posterior wall of the uterus in the female human body. The rectouterine pouch is used in the treatment of end-stage renal failure in patients who are treated by peritoneal dialysis. The tip of the dialysis catheter is placed into the deepest point of the pouch. In women it is the deepest point of the peritoneal cavity, posterior to (behind) the uterus and anterior to (in front of) rectum. (The pouch on the other side of the uterus is thevesicouterine excavation.) It is near the posterior fornix of the vagina. In men, the region corresponding to the rectouterine pouch is the rectovesical excavation, which lies between the urinary bladder and rectum. (There is no equivalent to the vesicouterine excavation.)
Contents
[hide]

1 Pathology 2 Naming and etymology 3 Sexual response 4 Culdotomy 5 Clinical Relevance 6 Additional images 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit]Pathology
The rectouterine pouch, being the lowest part of the peritoneal cavity in a woman at supine position, is a common site for the spread of pathology such as ascites, tumour,endometriosis, pus, etc.

[edit]Naming

and etymology

It is also known by the names Douglas pouch, Douglas cavity, Douglas space andDouglas cul-de-sac.[1]

It is named after the Scottish anatomist Dr. James Douglas (16751742) who extensively explored this region of the female body. Three other nearby anatomical structures are also named for him - the Douglas fold, the Douglas line and the Douglas septum.

[edit]Sexual

response

It is thought by some[who?] that when a woman becomes aroused, her uterus will retract, making it possible for the rectouterine pouch to be stimulated through the end of the posterior wall of the vagina. It may also be stimulated through the anterior wall of the anus. In a sexual context, the rectouterine pouch is referred to as the epicenter, backstop or deep spot (in common with the AFE zone), the PFE zone (posterior fornix erogenous zone) or, most commonly, the cul-de-sac.[citation needed]

[edit]Culdotomy
A culdotomy incision or needle puncture of this "cul-de-sac" pouch by way of the vagina.