Left Colic Gutter

Medical definition of paracolic gutter.

Left colic gutter.

In addition flow in the left paracolic gutter is cut off from reaching the left subphrenic space by the phrenicocolic ligament. 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. 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 right and left paracolic gutters are peritoneal recesses on the posterior abdominal wall lying alongside the ascending and descending colon.

Flow occurs preferentially through the right rather than left paracolic gutters owing to the broader diameter of the right gutter. The main paracolic gutter lies lateral to the colon on each side. The left lateral paracolic gutter. This gutter is however much smaller because it is restricted at the top by the phrenicocolic ligament or the ligament supporting the top left edge of the colon.

The main paracolic gutter lies lateral to the colon on each side. 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 transverse mesocolon divides the abdomen into supra and inframeso colic spaces. 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.

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.