Vesico-uterine pouch

In human female anatomy, the vesico-uterine pouch, also known by various names, is a fold of peritoneum over the uterus and the urinary bladder. Like the recto-uterine pouch, it is a female pelvic recess. However, it is a shallower pouch close to the anterior fornix of the vagina.

Vesico-uterine pouch
Sagittal section of the lower part of a female trunk, right segment. (Excavatio vesicouterina labeled at bottom right.)
The epiploic foramen, greater sac or general cavity (red) and lesser sac, or omental bursa (blue). Uterovesical excavation labeled at bottom left, third from the bottom.
Details
Identifiers
Latinexcavatio vesicouterina
TA98A10.1.02.504F
TA23724
FMA14729
Anatomical terminology

Structure

The vesico-uterine pouch is a fold of peritoneum over the uterus and the urinary bladder, forming a pelvic recess.[1] It is continued over the intestinal surface and fundus of the uterus onto its vesical surface, which it covers as far as the junction of the body and cervix uteri, and then to the urinary bladder. It is narrowest when the uterus is anteverted rather then retroverted.[1] The deepest point of the vesico-uterine pouch is typically higher than the deepest point of the recto-uterine pouch.[2]

Variation

When the uterus is very anteverted, the vesico-uterine pouch is deeper than usual.[2]

Clinical significance

The vesico-uterine pouch may become attached to the uterus, preventing sliding of the urinary bladder past the uterus.[3] This may occur in a third of women who have had a caesarian section, and some people with endometriosis.[3]

Th vesico-uterine pouch is an important anatomical landmark for chronic endometriosis. Endometrial seeding in this region causes cyclical pain in women of child-bearing age. This pouch is also an important factor in a retroverted uterus, which can frequently complicate pregnancies.

History

Etymology

The vesico-uterine (or vesicouterine) pouch is also called the vesico-uterine (or vesicouterine) excavation, utero-vesical (or uterovesical) pouch, or excavatio vesicouterina. The combining forms reflect the bladder (vesico-, -vesical) and uterus (utero-, -uterine).

Additional images
  • Median sagittal section of female pelvis.

See also

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1152 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Hughes, Tracey (2011-01-01), Allan, Paul L.; Baxter, Grant M.; Weston, Michael J. (eds.), "CHAPTER 34 - Pelvic anatomy and scanning techniques", Clinical Ultrasound (Third Edition), Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 645–659, ISBN 978-0-7020-3131-1, retrieved 2021-02-04
  2. Bricou, Alexandre; Batt, Ronald E.; Chapron, Charles (2008-06-01). "Peritoneal fluid flow influences anatomical distribution of endometriotic lesions: Why Sampson seems to be right". European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 138 (2): 127–134. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2008.01.014. ISSN 0301-2115.
  3. Porter, Misty Blanchette; Goldstein, Steven (2019-01-01), Strauss, Jerome F.; Barbieri, Robert L. (eds.), "Chapter 35 - Pelvic Imaging in Reproductive Endocrinology", Yen and Jaffe's Reproductive Endocrinology (Eighth Edition), Philadelphia: Elsevier, pp. 916–961.e5, ISBN 978-0-323-47912-7, retrieved 2021-02-04


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