THE PELVIC PERITONEUM. 



377 



part of the vagina where it adjoins the uterus and thence along the 

 back of the uterus in the female. 



There is thus produced a deep hollow at the back of the pelvis 

 which is called the recto-genital pouch, or the recto-vesiccd in the male Recto- 

 and recto-uterine (Douglas's Pouch) in the female. 



When the bladder and rectum are distended the floor of this 



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pouch rises and, in moderate distension of both, the reflection of 

 peritoneum from the rectum on to the seminal vesicles is about 

 an inch above the prostate and three inches above the anus. 



On either side of the rectum is a hollow, occupied in varying Para-rectal 



fossa. 



