11/15 Pelvis Anatomy Flashcards
What comprises the antero-inferior wall of the pelvic cavity?
Pubis and pubic symphysis
− Weight bearing
What comprises the lateral pelvic walls of the pelvic cavity?
Os coxae
Obturator foramen and membrane
What comprises the posterior wall of the pelvic cavity?
Bony wall and roof- sacrum and coccyx
Musculoligmantous posterolateral walls
(piriformis, sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments)
What comprises the pelvic floor (inferior boundary) of the pelvic cavity?
Formed by the funnel shaped pelvic diaphragm- coccygeus and levator ani muscles and fascia
What does the pelvic inlet (superior pelvic aperture) divide? What defines it?
Divides the pelvis into greater and lesser pelvis
Defined by the pelvic brim
What composes the pelvic brim?
Sacral promontory, bilateral linea terminalis
What comprises the pelvic outlet (inferior pelvic aperture)?
Pubic arch, ischial tuberosities, sacrotuberous ligaments, and tip of the coccyx
What comprises the greater pelvis (false pelvis)?
Abdominal viscera
What composes the lesser pelvis (true pelvis)?
Between the pelvic inlet and outlet
Where is the lesser pelvis (true pelvis)?
Between the pelvic inlet and outlet
The pelvic girdle is a basin-shaped ring of bones that connects the
Vertebral column and femurs
Is the pelvic girdle stronger or weaker than the pectoral girdle?
Stronger
What are the functions of the pelvic girdle?
To bear and transport weight of upper body.
Provide attachment for the powerful muscles of locomotion, posture, abdominal wall, erectile bodies, and membranes.
Support and protect the abdominopelvic viscera.
What bones make up the pelvic girdle?
Ilium, ischium, pubis
What kind of cartilage separates the pelvic girdle bones?
Triradiate
The triradiate cartilage parts of the pelvic girdle are
Sacroiliac joint, pubic symphysis
At what age do the sacroiliac joint and pubic symphysis fuse the pelvic girdle?
13-16 years old
In anatomical position of the pelvic girdle, what lies in the same plane?
ASIS and anterior aspect of pubic symphysis lie in the same vertical plane
What do the sacrospinous ligament and the sacrotuberous ligaments of the pelvic girdle prevent?
anterioinferior rotation of the upper sacrum
What are the two ligaments of the pelvic girdle that prevent anterioinferior rotation of the upper sacrum?
Sacrospinous ligament, sacrotuberous ligament
What does the sacrospinous ligament connect?
Sacrum to ischial spine
What does the sacrotuberous ligament connect?
Posterior ilium, lateral sacrum and coccyx to ischial tuberosity
What do the sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments form?
The greater and lesser sciatic foramen
What are the features of the male pelvis?
Narrow arch and angle
Greater pelvis- deep
Lesser pelvis- narrow and deep
Pelvic inlet- heart shaped
Large acetabulum
What are the features of the female pelvis?
Wide arch and angle
Greater pelvis- shallow
Lesser pelvis- wide and shallow
Pelvic inlet- oval and rounded
Smaller acetabulum
What are the pelvic arch and angle like in a male and female pelvis?
Male: narrow arch and angle (2nd and 3rd digits spread apart)
Female: wide arch and angle (thumb and 2nd digits spread apart)
What is the difference of the greater pelvis in a male versus female?
Male: deep
Female: shallow
What is the difference in the lesser pelvis in a male and female?
Male: narrow and deep
Female: wide and shallow
What is the difference in the pelvic inlet in males versus females?
Males: heart shaped
Females: oval and rounded
What is the difference in the acetabulum in males versus females?
Males: large
Females: smaller
What happens to the pelvic ligaments during pregnancy?
Increased levels of sex hormones and relaxin permits as much as 10-15% increase in diameter
Increased circumference of the lesser pelvis
Increased flexibility of the pubic symphysis
What ligaments relax due to relaxin in pregnancy?
ALL ligaments, not just in the pelvic region
How is the pelvic diaphragm/floor shaped? Where is it?
Bowl/funnel shaped muscular hammock, within lesser pelvis
What does the pelvic diaphragm/floor separate?
Separates the pelvic cavity from the perineum
Is the pelvic diaphragm/floor contracted? How so?
Always tonically contracted and is actively contracted during times of increased pressure (sneezing, jumping, etc.)
What is the pelvic diaphragm comprised of?
Coccygeus, Puborectalis, Pubococcygeus, Iliococcygeus, Fascia
What makes up the levator ani?
Puborectalis, Pubococcygeus, Iliococcygeus
What does the pelvic diaphragm attach to? What muscle does it divide?
Attaches to the overlying obturator fascia divides the obturator internus muscle into superior pelvic portion and inferior perineal portion
What is the puborectalis?
Thicker, narrower, medial part of the levator ani muscle.
U-shaped muscular sling that passes posterior to the anorectal junction.
Maintains fecal continence.
What does the pelvic floor support during birth?
Supports the fetal head while the cervix is dilating in preparation for birth