Module 7 Urogenital Flashcards
Pelvic cavity borders
Pelvic inlet: pubic crest and pectineal line, arcuate line, ala of sacrum, sacral promontory (S1 vertebra)
Pelvic outlet: pubic arch, ischial tuberosities, sacrotuberous ligaments, coccyx
Greater/false pelvis: area superior to the pelvic inlet, contains most abdominal organs
Lesser/true pelvis: area between the pelvic inlet and pelvic floor
Perineum: inferior to the pelvic floor
Pelvic girdle Sex differences
Feature Female Male
General structure Lighter, thinner Heavier, thicker
Iliac crest Straight Curved
Pelvic inlet Oval, large Heart-shaped, small
Pelvic outlet Wide Narrow
Pubic arch >90 degrees <90 degrees
Sacrum Curved anteriorly Straighter anteriorly
Coccyx Moveable, curved anteriorly Rigid, straighter anteriorly
Greater sciatic notch Wide Narrow/ acute
Obturator foramen Oval Circular
Birth canal measurements
Obstetric conjugate (inlet)
Bispinous diameter (midplane)
Bituberous diameter (outlet)
Anteroposterior sagittal diameter (outlet)
Pelvic floor components and innervation
Formed by levator ani muscles + coccygeus muscle
Levator ani has three parts:
Puborectalis
Pubococcygeus
Iliococcygeus
Urogenital hiatus allows passage of the urethra, anus, and the vagina into the perineum
Levator ani innervated by ant. ramus of S4 and the pudendal nerve.
Coccygeus innervated by ant. rami if S3 – S4
Pelvic wall: component elements
Bony elements: innominate bones, sacrum, coccyx
Ligaments: sacrospinous, sacrotuberous
Muscles: obturator internus, piriformis
Pelvic floor innervation
Levator ani innervated by ant. ramus of S4 and the pudendal nerve.
Coccygeus innervated by ant. rami if S3 – S4
Pudendal nerve roots, function and route of travel
From sacral plexus (ant. rami of S2 – S4 spinal nerves)
Somatic innervation to perineum
Exits pelvic cavity through greater sciatic foramen
Re-enters pelvic cavity through lesser sciatic foramen
Travels in pudendal canal in theischioanal fossa
Perineum and perineal triangles
Diamond-shaped area bounded by the pubic symphysis and ischiopubic rami, sacrotuberous ligaments, and coccyx
Bounded superiorly by the pelvic floor muscles and inferiorly by skin
Imaginary line between the ischial tuberosities creates two triangles
Urogenital triangle
Anal triangle
Perineal membrane and the spaces it creates
Triangular fibrous membrane attached to the inferior pubic rami and ischia
Covers the urogenital triangle
Attachment points for the roots of external genitalia and associated muscles
Has openings for the urethra and vagina
Creates two spaces relative to it
Deep perineal pouch (above the perineal membrane)
Superficial perineal pouch (below the perineal membrane
Perineal body
Mass of fibromuscular connective tissue – central tendon of perineum
Found in the midline of the perineum, on the posterior border of the perineal membrane
Between the urogenital and anal triangles
Attachment point for pelvic floor and perineum muscles e.g. levator ani, anal sphincters
Important for strengthening the pelvic floor
Deep perineal pouch location and contents
Space between the pelvic floor muscles and perineal membrane
Female: urethra, vagina and sphincter musculature
Male: contains the urethra, associated sphincter musculature and bulbourethral glands
Deep transverse perineal muscles help to support the perineal body
Superficial perineal pouch location and contents
Internal pudendal artery and its branches (+ veins)
Pudendal nerve + its branches e.g. perineal nerve, dorsal nerve of clitoris/penis
Erectile tissue:corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum (bulb)
Muscle covering the erectile tissue: ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscles
Female:
Labia majora and labia minora
Crura of clitoris – corpora cavernosa
Vestibular (clitoral) bulbs – corpus spongiosum
Greater vestibular (Bartholin’s) glands
Male:
Crura (corpora cavernosa) and bulb of penis (corpus spongiosum)
Urethra
Testes (suspended from abdominal wall)
Scrotum
Effect of childbirth on the perineum
Tearing of the perineum can lead to:
Stress urinary incontinence due to a weaker pelvic floor
Faecal incontinence due to damage to theexternal anal sphincter and pelvic floor muscles
Pelvic organ prolapse due to a weaker pelvic floor
episiotomy
Midline and mediolateral incisions for episiotomies of the perineum to reduce tearing stresses during vaginal delivery
Pelvic fascia
Campers and scarpa’s fascia merge to form Dartos fascia, which then later becomes colles fascia in the perineum
Extravasated fluids in the male urethra can collect where?
Extravasated fluid collects in the superficial perineal pouch, the scrotum, around the penis, and lower abdominal wall
Ischioanal fossa boundaries
Pyramidal, fat-filled space surrounding the rectum and anal canal
Inferior to the pelvic diaphragm
Boundaries:
Roof: pelvic diaphragm
Floor: perineal skin
Medial wall: levator ani, external anal sphincter
Lateral wall: obturator internus and obturator fascia, ischial tuberosity
The left and right sides of the ischioanal fossa communicate posterior to the anal canal
Relevant for the spread of infection
Where can infection spread from left to right and vica versa, in the ischioanal fossa?
The left and right sides of the ischioanal fossa communicate posterior to the anal canal
Relevant for the spread of infection
Ischioanal fossa contents
Subcutaneous fat: allows space foranal canal to distend/expandduring defecation
Pudendal canal (Alcock’s)
Internal pudendal artery and vein
Pudendal nerve
Inferior rectal artery and inferior rectal vein
Pudendal nerve entrapment
Perianal abscesses
Infections usually start in the submucosa around the anus or in subcutaneous tissue.
Can progress to the ischioanal fossa.
Need to be surgically drained.
Anatomical relations of the uterus
Uterus sits in the lesser pelvis, between the bladder and the rectum
Pouches formed by parietal peritoneum between the uterus and bladder (vesicouterine pouch), and uterus and rectum (rectouterine pouch)
In women, what is the lowest point of the abdo cavity fluid can collect in?
rectouterine pouch
Supporting ligaments of the uterus and ovaries
Broad ligament
Mesovarium, mesosalpinx, mesometrium
Uterosacral ligament
Cervix sacrum
Transverse cervical (cardinal)ligament
Cervix lateral pelvic walls. Transmitsuterine vessels and nerves
Round ligament
Uterine horn labia majora (through inguinal canal)
Pubocervical ligament
Cervix pubic symphysis
Ovarian ligament
Ovary uterine horn
Suspensory ligament of ovary
Ovary lateral pelvic wall. Contains ovarian vessels
Pubovesical ligament
Bladder pubic symphysis
Non ligamentous support of uterus
Pelvic floor muscles
Perineal muscles:
Ischiocavernosus
Bulbospongiosus
Deep and superficial transverse perineal muscles
Perineal membrane
Perineal body