The peritoneal cavity is a potential space located between the two layers of the peritoneum—the parietal peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines the abdominal wall, and visceral peritoneum, which surrounds the internal organs.
[3][4] The liver, spleen, stomach, and lesser omentum are contained within the supracolic compartment.
The small intestine surrounded by the ascending, transverse, and descending colon, and the paracolic gutters are contained within the infracolic compartment.
[7] An increase in capillary pressure in the abdominal organs can cause fluid to leave the interstitial space and enter the peritoneal cavity, resulting in a condition called ascites.
[8] Sampling of body fluid from the peritoneal cavity is referred to as peritoneocentesis.