In this chapter we will review the traumatic injuries to the organs of the retroperitoneal space, which will include the pancreas, kidneys, ureters, adrenal glands, abdominal aorta, and the inferior vena cava.  Although, the abdominal portion of the esophagus is technically retroperitoneal, as is true of the distal portion of the first part of the duodenum, its second and third parts, and the fourth portion with exception of the most distal part, and the ascending and descending colon, they were discussed in the previous chapter, “Traumatic Injuries of the Organs of the Abdominal Cavity: Adult and Pediatric,” for the sake of continuity.  The first part of this chapter will be devoted to a discussion of the relevant anatomy of each of the organs.  The purpose of this discussion is two fold.  First, it will constitute a review of the anatomy for the medical students, pathology residents and forensic pathology fellows, aiding them in understanding the pathophysiologic dynamics involved in traumatic injuries to these organs.  Second, since this educational blog may also be used by medicolegal investigators, law enforcement personnel, and attorneys, who have little knowledge of anatomy, such a review will help them to have a bettter understanding of the relationships between trauma applied to the victim and their injuries.  There will also be a discussion, in a general sense, of the mechanism of injury to the retroperitoneal organs when they are subjected to trauma.

Traumatic Injuries of the Organs of the Retroperitoneal Space