paracolic gutter

The paracolic gutters (paracolic sulci, paracolic recesses) are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall. There are two paracolic gutters: The right lateral paracolic gutter. The left lateral paracolic gutter. These gutters are clinically important because they allow a passage for infectious fluids from different compartments of the abdomen. For example; fluid from an infected appendix can track up the right paracolic gutter to the hepatorenal recess.