Douglas, pouch of

Douglas, pouch of
An extension of the peritoneal cavity between the rectum and back wall of the uterus. The term "cul-de-sac," aside from being any "blind pouch or cavity that is closed at one end," is used specifically to refer to the rectouterine pouch. From that fact comes: Culdoscopy, the introduction of a viewing tube (endoscope) through the vagina into the cul-de-sac; Culdoscope, the endoscope that is used to look into the cul-de-sac; and Culdocentesis, the aspiration (withdrawal) of fluid from the cul-de-sac. In French, "cul-de-sac" literally is "bottom of (a) sack." As early as the 13th century, a cul-de-sac was a dead-end street (or a dead-end way), a blind alley. (The third letter in "cul" is silent in French; in English it is spoken. So, in French "cul" is pronounced "ku" and in English "kul"). The rectouterine pouch is called the pouch of Douglas after the Scottish anatomist James Douglas (1675-1742) who explored this region of the female body and left his name attached to at least 3 other structural features in the vicinity.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Douglas pouch — pouch of Douglas excavatio rectouterina …   Medical dictionary

  • Douglas's pouch — n POUCH OF DOUGLAS …   Medical dictionary

  • Douglas's cul-de-sac — dəg lə səz n POUCH OF DOUGLAS …   Medical dictionary

  • Pouch of Douglas — An extension of the peritoneal cavity between the rectum and back wall of the uterus. The term cul de sac, aside from being any blind pouch or cavity that is closed at one end, is used specifically to refer to the rectouterine pouch. From that… …   Medical dictionary

  • pouch — A pocket or cul de sac. SEE ALSO: fossa, recess, sac. antral p. a p. made in the antrum of the stomach of experimental animals. branchial pouches SYN: pharyngeal pouches. Broca p. SYN: puden …   Medical dictionary

  • Pouch, rectouterine — An extension of the peritoneal cavity between the rectum and back wall of the uterus. The term cul de sac, aside from being any blind pouch or cavity that is closed at one end, is used specifically to refer to the rectouterine pouch. From that… …   Medical dictionary

  • douglas's cul-de-sac — noun or douglas s fossa or douglas s pouch Usage: usually capitalized D Etymology: after James Douglas died 1742 Scottish anatomist : pouch of douglas …   Useful english dictionary

  • pouch — n. 1) (in anatomy) a small sac like structure, especially occurring as an outgrowth of a larger structure. The pouch of Douglas is a pouch of peritoneum occupying the space between the rectum and uterus. 2) (in surgery) a sac created from a loop… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • pouch of douglas — ˈdəgləs Usage: usually capitalized D Etymology: after James Douglas died 1742 Scottish anatomist : a deep peritoneal recess between the uterus and the upper vaginal wall anteriorly and the rectum posteriorly …   Useful english dictionary

  • douglas's pouch — noun see douglas s cul de sac …   Useful english dictionary

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