Lecture 4 - Bony pelvis

Question 1

Functions of the bony pelvis?

Answer 1

Support of the upper body

Transference of weight

Attachment for muscles

Attachment for external genitalia

Protection of pelvic organs

Passage for childbirth

Question 2

What does the bony pelvis consist of?

Answer 2

• 2 hip bones
• sacrum
• coccyx

Question 3

What is the pelvic cavity?

Answer 3

lies within the bony pelvis

continuous with abdominal cavity above

lies between pelvic inlet and pelvic floor

Question 4

What does the inguinal ligament attach between?

Answer 4

ligament attaches between the ASIS and the pubic tubercle

Question 5

Where can the ischial spines be palpated?

Answer 5

are palpable on vaginal examination: approx. 4 and 8 o’clock positions

Question 6

2 main ligaments of the pelvis?

Answer 6

sacrotuberous ligament

sacrospinous ligament

Question 7

Ligaments of the pelvis relax during later pregnancy. true/false?

Answer 7

True

Question 8

Function of the pelvic ligaments?

Answer 8

Protection against sudden weight transfer

The presence of these 2 ligaments also forms 2 foraminae, the greater and lesser sciatic foraminae

Question 9

Main arterial supply and venous drainage for the female pelvic area?

Answer 9

Common iliac artery and common iliac vein

Question 10

What is “moulding” in childbirth?

Answer 10

refers to the movement of one bone over another to allow the foetal head to pass through the pelvis during labour

Question 11

What is the vertex of the foetal skull?

Answer 11

an area of the foetal skull: outlined by the anterior and posterior fontanelles and the parietal eminences

Question 12

The occipitofrontal diameter is longer than the biparietal diameter. true/false?

Answer 12

True

occipitofrontal diameter is longer than the biparietal diameter (i.e. the foetal head is longer than it is wide)

Question 13

At the pelvic inlet, the AP diameter of the pelvis is wider than the transverse diameter. true/false?

Answer 13

False

Transverse diameter is wider than AP diameter

Question 14

What is “the station”?

Answer 14

The distance of the foetal head from the ischial spines

Question 15

A negative number means the head is superior to the spines, and a positive number means the head is inferior to the spines. True/false?

Answer 15

True

Question 16

At the pelvic inlet, the foetal head should be transverse. true/false?

Answer 16

True

Question 17

As it descends through the pelvic cavity, the foetal head shouldn’t rotate and it should be extended. true/false?

Answer 17

False

The foetal head SHOULD rotate and it should be flexed.

Question 18

At the pelvic outlet, the foetal head should ideally lie occipitoanterior (OA) and extension of the head on the neck should occur. true/false?

Answer 18

True

Question 19

Once baby’s head has delivered is there any further rotation carried out?

Answer 19

Yes, there is further rotation so that the shoulders and the rest of baby can then be delivered