Female Pelvis

Question 1

Pelvic brim

Answer 1

Divides the greater and lesser pelvis
Top border of the sacrum and around to the top of the pubic symphysis
Sacral promontory, arcuate and pectineal lines, and the upper margin of the pubic symphysis

Question 2

Pelvic diaphragm is made up of what 2 muscles?

Answer 2

Levator ani

Coccygeus (also called Ishiococcygeus)

Question 3

What muscles make up the Levator ani?

Answer 3

Pubococcygeus

Illiococcygeus

Question 4

Obturator internus

Answer 4

Closes off the obturator foramen on the inside

Question 5

Piriformis

Answer 5

At the back of the pelvic floor

Question 6

Suspensory ligament

Answer 6

Brings vessels and nerves to the ovary (ovarian artery and vein)

Question 7

Broad ligament

Answer 7

Attaches the uterus to the lateral pelvic walls

Question 8

Round ligament

Answer 8

Thicker portion of broad ligament
Passes through inguinal canal
Anchors the uterus

Question 9

What orientation is the uterus in?

Answer 9

Anteverted (tilted forward at the cervix)

Antiflexed (tilted forward over the bladder)

Question 10

Blood supply of the pelvis comes from where?

Answer 10

Branches of the internal iliac artery

common iliac artery splits into external and internal

Question 11

Branches of the internal iliac artery

Answer 11

First one is usually the obliterated umbilical artery (vesical arteries to bladder come off this one)
Obturator artery (goes through foramen to thigh)
Superior and inferior gluteal arteries
Uterine artery (over the ureter)
Internal pudendal artery

Question 12

Obturator artery

Answer 12

Exits pelvic cavity via the obturator foramen

In pelvis gives branches to iliacus muscle and the bladder

Question 13

Superior and inferior gluteal arteies

Answer 13

Superior exits pelvic cavity above the piriformis muscle, inferior exits below
Give blood supply to gluteal muscles

Question 14

Internal pudendal artery

Answer 14

Exits pelvis via greater sciatic foramen to gluteal region

Blood supply to external genitalia

Question 15

Obliterated umbilical artery

Answer 15

Obliterated part is functional in a fetus (sends deoxygenated blood to the placenta)
The part that remains in adults gives the vesical arteries (to bladder) and uterine artery (to uterus)

Question 16

Ovarian artery (branch of what and blood supply to where)

Answer 16

Branch of the abdominal aorta (not the internal iliac artery!)
Blood supply to the ovary

Question 17

Lumbosacral plexus

Answer 17

Nerve supply of the female pelvis
Lumbar plexus: L1-L4
Sacral plexus: L4-S4

Question 18

Somatic innervation of the pelvis

Answer 18

Pudendal nerve
S2, S3 and S4
Motor and sensory fibers
Innervate the muscles of the pelvic floor and the skin

Question 19

Pudendal nerve

Answer 19

Origin is from S2-4
Exits the pelvic cavity through the greater sciatic foramen to the gluteal region
Leaves gluteal region through lesser sciatic foramen to enter the pudendal canal
Motor branches supply levator ani muscle and sphincter muscle
Sensory branches supply the skin of the perineum and external genitalia

Question 20

Pelvic splanchnic nerves

Answer 20

Parasympathetic innervation

From S2, S3 and S4

Question 21

Cervix uteri

Answer 21

Inferior part of the uterus

Question 22

Genitofemoral nerve

Answer 22

From L1 and L2
Emerges on surface of psoas muscle
Genital branch (enters inguinal canal, motor fibers to cremaster muscle)
Femoral branch (cutaneous innervation of anteromedial thigh).