pararectal fossa

Introduction

A peritoneal depression on either side of the rectum formed by peritoneal folds passing from the posterolateral pelvic wall to the central pelvic viscera.

This fossa is a lateral extension of the rectovesical pouch in male or the rectouterine pouch in female.

Function

• Permits the rectum to distend as it fills with feces

More general terms

• fossa

Component of

• perineum