Every organ across Endocrine, GI, Female Reproductive, Male Reproductive, and Nephrology/Urinary, classified by its relationship to the peritoneum — straight from what each lecture states.
| Structure | Classification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Thyroid gland | Extraperitoneal | A neck organ — the peritoneal cavity doesn't extend to the neck at all; enclosed instead by the pretracheal fascia |
| Parathyroid glands | Extraperitoneal | Neck organs, same reasoning as the thyroid |
| Pituitary gland | Extraperitoneal | Intracranial (within the sella turcica) — no peritoneal relationship applies |
| Pancreas | Retroperitoneal | The whole gland lies retroperitoneally at ~T12/L1–L3, cradled by the duodenum; part of the SAD PUCKER list ("except tail" is a common refinement some sources use, though this lecture places the whole gland retroperitoneally) |
| Adrenal (suprarenal) glands | Retroperitoneal | Enclosed in renal fascia (the same fascial compartment as the kidney), separated from the kidney itself only by fibrous tissue — the "S" in SAD PUCKER |
| Structure | Classification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Esophagus (abdominal part) | Intraperitoneal | The short abdominal segment past the diaphragm; the thoracic esophagus above it is the retroperitoneal-equivalent structure in SAD PUCKER's "E" |
| Stomach | Intraperitoneal | Fully mobile, suspended by the greater & lesser omenta |
| Duodenum 1st part (cap/ampulla) | Intraperitoneal | The only duodenal segment that is NOT retroperitoneal |
| Duodenum 2nd, 3rd, 4th parts | Retroperitoneal | Descending, transverse, and ascending parts — the "D" in SAD PUCKER |
| Jejunum & ileum | Intraperitoneal | Suspended by the mesentery proper, from the duodenojejunal flexure to the right iliac fossa |
| Cecum & appendix | Intraperitoneal | Appendix is additionally fixed by its own mesoappendix |
| Ascending colon | Retroperitoneal | Fixed against the posterior wall — the "C" (colon) in SAD PUCKER |
| Transverse colon | Intraperitoneal | The most mobile part of the colon, suspended by the transverse mesocolon |
| Descending colon | Retroperitoneal | Fixed against the posterior wall, like the ascending colon |
| Sigmoid colon | Intraperitoneal | Extends into the pelvis, suspended by the sigmoid mesocolon |
| Rectum | Retroperitoneal | Forms the last 15 cm of the digestive tract — the "R" in SAD PUCKER |
| Liver | Intraperitoneal (mostly) | Completely covered by Glisson's capsule, but only an incomplete covering of peritoneum — the "bare area" (against the diaphragm) is the exception |
| Gallbladder | Intraperitoneal | Sits in a fossa on the liver's visceral surface, between the right and quadrate lobes |
| Spleen | Intraperitoneal | Explicitly stated as intraperitoneal, anterior to ribs 9–11 |
| Aorta / IVC (abdominal) | Retroperitoneal | The great abdominal vessels — the "A" in SAD PUCKER |
| Structure | Classification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ovary | Intraperitoneal | Suspended by the mesovarium (a fold of the broad ligament) and anchored by the suspensory & ovarian ligaments |
| Uterine (fallopian) tubes | Intraperitoneal | Lie within the broad ligament, alongside the uterus |
| Uterus | Intraperitoneal | Explicitly stated as intraperitoneal, draped by the broad ligament, positioned between the bladder and rectum |
| Vagina | Extraperitoneal | Lies below the peritoneal reflection — the rectouterine (posterior) pouch stops at the posterior fornix, above the vagina proper |
| Urinary bladder | Extraperitoneal (except superior wall) | A non-peritoneal organ except for its superior wall, which is covered by peritoneum — this is also why pain sensation differs for that wall |
| Structure | Classification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Testis | Extra-abdominal | Descends out of the abdominal cavity into the scrotum; carries the tunica vaginalis, a peritoneal remnant that lines each scrotal cavity as a serous sac, but the testis itself is no longer within the true peritoneal cavity |
| Urinary bladder | Extraperitoneal (except superior wall) | Same as in the female pelvis — non-peritoneal except for the superior wall |
| Prostate gland | Extraperitoneal | A pelvic gland situated below the peritoneal cavity, inferior to the bladder |
| Structure | Classification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kidney | Retroperitoneal | Explicitly stated: "the kidneys are retroperitoneal organs" — the "K" in SAD PUCKER |
| Ureter | Retroperitoneal | A retroperitoneal organ along its entire abdominal course — the "U" in SAD PUCKER |
| Urinary bladder | Extraperitoneal (except superior wall) | A non-peritoneal organ except for its superior wall, which is covered by peritoneum |
| Urethra | Extraperitoneal | Entirely below/outside the peritoneal cavity |