The paracolic gutters (paracolic sulci, paracolic recesses) are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.

The main paracolic gutter lies lateral to the colon on each side.

The left and right paracolic gutters.

Locate the paracolic gutters and the root of the mesentery within the infracolic compartment.

For example; fluid from an infected appendix can track up the right paracolic gutter to the hepatorenal recess.

The right lateral paracolic gutter.

The left medial paracolic gutter.

Find the left and right paracolic gutters on the lateral aspects of the ascending and descending colons.

There are two paracolic gutters:

A less obvious medial paracolic gutter may be formed, especially on the right side, if the colon possesses a short mesentery for part of its length.

A right paramedian incision gives a somewhat better access to the right paracolic gutter than a midline incision of the same length.

The term refers mainly to four spaces in the abdominal cavity; the two paracolic gutters and the two paramesenteric gutters.

The right and left paracolic gutters are peritoneal recesses on the posterior abdominal wall lying alongside the ascending and descending colon.

The paracolic gutters (paracolic sulci, paracolic recesses) are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.

The latter continues around this flexure and is contiguous with the peritoneal fold in the right paracolic gutter (i.e. the right lateral peritoneal fold).

FRIDAY GROUP ONLY Incise the peritoneum along the lateral paracolic gutters.

The pain is caused by gastric and duodenal fluids that tend to settle in the right paracolic gutter causing peritonitis and RLQ pain (Achacoso, et al. 2012)

Specific implementations vary, some areas use the German originated FAST scan system which focuses on fluids in the paracolic gutter and the Douglas, Koller's and Morison's pouch.

The right (lateral) paracolic gutter runs from the superolateral aspect of the hepatic flexure of the colon, down the lateral aspect of the ascending colon, and around the caecum.

The right paracolic gutter is larger than the left, which together with the partial barrier provided by the phrenicocolic ligament, may explain why right subphrenic collections are more common than left subphrenic collections.

The paracolic gutters (paracolic sulci, paracolic recesses) are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall.