Left Paracolic Gutter Nodule

Consequently the majority of fluid flows into the right paracolic gutter.

Left paracolic gutter nodule.

As the left paracolic gutter is shallow and discontinuous with left subdiaphragmatic space at the phrenicocolic ligament most of the fluid takes path through the right paracolic gutter. The left gutter runs between the descending colon and the abdominal wall and just like the right gutter empties into the lower abdomen and pelvic area. The left paracolic gutter is shallow and is limited superiorly by the phrenicocolic ligament which extends from the splenic flexure of the colon to the diaphragm 10. Similar to its right counterpart the paracolic gutter originates from the left hepatic flexure or the meet point of the transverse and descending colon and runs downward to empty into the pelvic region or abdominal wall.

The main paracolic gutter lies lateral to the colon on each side. The right paracolic gutter is continuous with the perisplenic space or area around the spleen. The right and left paracolic gutters are peritoneal recesses on the posterior abdominal wall lying alongside the ascending and descending colon. The left lateral paracolic gutter is on the left side of the abdominal cavity between the outer wall of the descending colon and posterior abdominal wall.

The left medial paracolic gutter. Most of the fluid ascends via the right paracolic gutter into the right subdiaphragmatic space because the left paracolic gutter is shallow and discontinuous with the left subdiaphragmatic space at the phrenicocolic ligament and because direct passage from the right to left subdiaphragmatic space is prevented by the falciform ligament fig 1b 3 5.