| retroperitoneal space | An area occupying the most posterior aspect of the abdominal cavity. It is bounded laterally by the borders of the quadratus lumborum muscles and extends from the diaphragm to the brim of the true pelvis, where it continues as the pelvic extraperitoneal space. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| retroperitoneal | <anatomy> Behind or posterior to the peritoneum. (11 Jan 1998) |
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| retroperitoneal adenopathy | <radiology> Ultrasound: increased echo most likely to be adenocarcinoma, decreased echo most likely to be lymphoma (12 Dec 1998) |
| retroperitoneal fibrosis | <radiology> Ureters tapered or obstructed, most severe at L4-5, ureters deviated medially, Treatment: symptomatic; steroids have ? long-term benefit Differential diagnosis: malignancy, lymphoma (especially Hodgkin's), metastasis from colon and breast, retroperitoneal sarcoma, drugs, methysergide (Sansert), haemorrhage, aortic aneurysm, trauma or surgery, inflammation, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, pancreatitis, extravasated urine, radiation (12 Dec 1998) |
| retroperitoneal hernia | A hernia in the subperitoneal tissues. Synonym: retroperitoneal hernia, Treitz's hernia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| retroperitoneal liposarcoma | <radiology> Most common primary retroperitoneal tumour, rarely arises from lipoma, 95% of all fatty retroperitoneal tumours, 40-60 years; M>F, most radiosensitive sarcoma (32% 5-year survival) findings, CT, contrast enhancement, mixed density (fat and soft tissue elements), pseudocystic pattern: water density secondary to volume averaging, angio: hypovascular; no vessel dilation, capillary staining, laking sites for liposarcoma: lower extremity 45%, abdominal cavity and retroperitoneum 14%, trunk 14%, upper extremity 8%, head and neck 7% (12 Dec 1998) |
| alveolar dead space | The difference between physiologic dead space and anatomical dead space; it represents that part of the physiologic dead space resulting from ventilation of relatively underperfused or nonperfused alveoli; it differs specifically in being placed so as to fill and empty in parallel with functional alveoli, rather than being interposed in the conducting tubes between functional alveoli and the external environment. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anatomical dead space | The volume of the conducting airways from the external environment (at the nose and mouth) down to the level at which inspired gas exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide with pulmonary capillary blood; formerly presumed to extend down to the beginning of alveolar epithelium in the respiratory bronchioles, but more recent evidence indicates that effective gas exchange extends some distance up the thicker-walled conducting airways because of rapid longitudinal mixing. Compare: alveolar dead space, physiologic dead space. Synonym: anatomical airway. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antecubital space | The fossa in front of the elbow, bounded laterally and medially by the humeral origins of the extensors and flexors of the forearm, respectively, and superiorly by an imaginary line connecting the humeral condyles. Synonym: fossa cubitalis, antecubital space, chelidon, triangle of elbow. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior clear space | On lateral chest radiographs, the region dorsal to the sternum and ventral to the ascending aorta. Synonym: anterior clear space. (05 Mar 2000) |
| apical space | The space between the alveolar wall and the apex of the root of a tooth where an alveolar abscess usually has its origin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| axillary space | <anatomy> The underarm area. (16 Dec 1997) |
| Berger's space | The space between the patellar fossa of the vitreous and the lens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bogros' space | A triangular space between the peritoneum and the transversalis fascia, at the lower angle of which is the inguinal ligament; it contains the lower portion of the external iliac artery. Synonym: Bogros' space, spatium retroinguinale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bottcher's space | The blind pouch at the end of the endolymphatic duct. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Bowman's space | The slitlike space between the visceral and parietal layers of the capsule of the renal corpuscle; it opens into the proximal tubule of the nephron at the neck of the tubule. Synonym: Bowman's space, filtration space. (05 Mar 2000) |