Module 6: Pelvis and Perineum

Question 1

which wall of the peritoneal cavity bears the weight of the urinary bladder?

Answer 1

antero-inferior pelvic wall

Question 2

what structures compose the antero-inferior pelvic wall?

Answer 2

bodies and rami of the pubic bones and the pubic symphysis

Question 3

what structures compose the lateral pelvic walls?

Answer 3

boney framework of hip bones (including obturator foramen), covered an padded by obturator internus muscles

Question 4

what structures compose the posterior pelvic wall?

Answer 4

sacrum and coccyx make up boney posterior and roof. sacroiliac joints and associated ligaments and piriformis muscle make up posterolateral walls. greater sciatic foramen houses sacral plexus.

Question 5

what structures make up the pelvic floor?

Answer 5

pelvic diaphragm (levator ani and coccygeus muscles and fascias).

Question 6

what type of fascia lines the internal (deep or pelvic_ aspect of the muscles forming the walls and floor of the pelvis?

Answer 6

parietal pelvic fascia

Question 7

what type of fascia directly ensheathes the pelvic organs?

Answer 7

visceral pelvic fascia

Question 8

tendinous arch of pelvic fascia

Answer 8

where the parietal and visceral pelvic fascias become continuous. the parietal fascia becomes thickened, forms tendinous arch of pelvic fascia.

Question 9

what fibers are contained in the pelvic splanchnic nerves?

Answer 9

pre-synaptic parasympathetic and visceral afferent fibers derived from S2-S4 spinal cord segments and visceral afferent fibers from cell bodies in the spinal ganglia of the corresponding spinal nerves (listed on page 209 of book).

Question 10

how many sympathetic ganglia are associated with a sacral trunk (usually)?

Answer 10

4

Question 11

hypogastric plexuses

Answer 11

made up of superior and inferior hypogastric plexuses that are networks of sympathetic and visceral afferent nerve fibers.

Question 12

where is the superior hypogastric plexus found?

Answer 12

just inferior to the bifurcation of the aorta, then descends into pelvis. once it enters the pelvis, it divides into L and R hypogastric nerves.

Question 13

pelvic pain line

Answer 13

imaginary line that corresponds to the inferior limit of the peritoneum. represents the different routes taken by visceral afferent fibers based on whether they are carrying pain sensations or reflexive sensations (info that does not reach consciousness).

Question 14

visceral afferent fibers that transmit pain sensations for the viscera inferior to the pelvic pain line travel along with ___________ fibers to the spinal ganglia of _____.

Answer 14

parasympathetic

S2-S4

Question 15

visceral afferent fibers that transmit pain sensations for the viscera superior to the pelvic pain line travel along with ___________ fibers to the spinal ganglia of _____________.

Answer 15

sympathetic

inferior thoracic and superior lumbar spinal ganglia