The retroperitoneum, as its name suggests, is the compartment located behind the peritoneum — more specifically, it is the space posterior to the parietal peritoneum and anterior to transversalis fascia.

Cross-section of the abdomen (Credit: Dr. M. Skalski, CC BY-NC-ND)

Compartments

We can divide the retroperitoneum into three compartments, based on layers that surround the kidneys:

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