A less obvious medial paracolic gutter may be formed, especially on the right side, if the colon possesses a short mesentery for part of its length.
Superiorly, it is continuous with the peritoneum which lines the hepatorenal pouch and, through the epiploic foramen, the lesser sac.
Bile, pus, or blood released from viscera anywhere along its length may run along the paracolic gutter, and collect in sites quite remote from the organ of origin.
[2] In supine patients, infected fluid from the right iliac fossa may ascend in the paracolic gutter to enter the lesser sac.
In patients nursed in a sitting position, fluid from the stomach, duodenum, or gallbladder may run down the paracolic gutter to collect in the right iliac fossa or pelvis.