The extraperitoneal space is the portion of the

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the tors ...

and pelvis which does not lie within the

peritoneum The peritoneum is the serous membrane forming the lining of the abdominal cavity or coelom in amniotes and some invertebrates, such as annelids. It covers most of the intra-abdominal (or coelomic) organs, and is composed of a layer of mesot ...

. It includes: *

Retroperitoneal space 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 thei ...

, situated posteriorly to the peritoneum * ''Preperitoneal space'', situated anteriorly to the peritoneum **

Retropubic space Retropubic space is a potential avascular space located between the pubic symphysis and the urinary bladder. The retropubic space is a preperitoneal space, located behind the transversalis fascia and in front of peritoneum . Other names for the ...

, deep to the

pubic bone In vertebrates, the pubic region ( la, pubis) is the most forward-facing (ventral and anterior) of the three main regions making up the coxal bone. The left and right pubic regions are each made up of three sections, a superior ramus, inferior ra ...

Retro-inguinal space The retroinguinal space (or Bogros' space) is the extraperitoneal space situated deep to the inguinal ligament. It's limited by the fascia transversalis anteriorly, the peritoneum posteriorly and the iliac fascia laterally. This preperitoneal sp ...

, deep to the inguinal ligament The space in the pelvis is divided into the following components: *

prevesical space Retropubic space is a potential avascular space located between the pubic symphysis and the urinary bladder. The retropubic space is a preperitoneal space, located behind the transversalis fascia and in front of peritoneum . Other names for the ...

* perivesical space *

perirectal space The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in humans and some other mammals, and the gut in others. The adult human rectum is about long, and begins at the rectosigmoid junction (the end of the sigmoid colon) at the le ...

References

Abdomen {{Anatomy-stub