Pelvis Flashcards
Sacrum: Description
The sacrum is an element of the bony pelvis
Location: forms the posterior aspect of the pelvic ring
Function: transmission of force between the pelvis and the spinal column
Sacrum: Gross anatomy
Inverted triangle in shape
Formed by the fusion of 5 sacral vertebrae
Concave anterior
Sacrum: Features
- Sacral prominence
- Superior articular processes with associated facets
- Sacral body
- Alar wings laterally
- Median sacral crest
- Sacral canal (triangular in shape)
- Termination of the sacral canal is at the sacral hiatus
- First four nerve roots exit via the paired anterior and posterior foramen
- The fifth sacral nerves exit via the sacral hiatus
Sacrum: Articulation
- Superiorly with the L5 vertebrae via the sacral prominence and the body of L5 and via the superior articular facets with the inferior articular facets of the L5 vertebrae
- Laterally the sacrum articulates with the ilium via the sacroiliac joints (mixed fibrous/synovial joints)
- Sacrococcygeal – inferiorly the sacrum articulates with the first coccygeal segment
Sacrum: Ligaments
- Lumbosacral
- Iliolumbar
- Sacroiliac ligaments
- Sacrospinous
- Sacrotuberous
- Sacrococcygeal ligaments
Sacrum: Neurovasculature
Blood supply:
- Iliolumbar arteries (Posterior division of the internal iliac arteries)
- Lateral sacral arteries (post. Div. int. iliac)
- Median sacral artery from the aorta
Venous drainage:
- Via the internal and external vertebral plexuses to the median and lateral sacral veins
Lymphatics:
- Perirectal and internal iliac nodes
Sacrum: Variants
- Lumboralisation of the S1
- Sacralisation of the L5
- Sacral agenesis
Hip bone: Description
The hip bone is a large paired flat bone of the pelvis.
Function: Forms the lateral and anterior aspects of the bony pelvis
Ilium
Superior part of the hip bone
Made up of a body and wing separated by the arcuate line
Forms the sacroiliac joint with the sacrum via the articular surface
Forms the superior aspect of the acetabulum
Anterior and posterior, superior and inferior iliac spines
Forms most of the greater sciatic notch
Ischium
Posterior inferior part of the hip bone
Made up of a body and a ramus
Forms the lower acetabulum
Forms the posterior part of the obturator foramen
Forms the lower part of the greater sciatic notch and all of the lesser sciatic notch with the ischial spine between them
Inferiorly is the ischial tuberosity
Pubis
Anteromedial body with a superior and inferior ramus
Forms the anterior aspect of the obturator foramen
Symphysial surface of the body of the pubis forms the pubic symphysis
Pubis tubercle located superior and lateral to the pubic symphysis
Forms the anterior aspect of the acetabulum
Sacroiliac Joint: Description
Paired symmetrical synovial and fibrous joint between the ilium and the sacrum
Location: S1-S3 level oblique plane
Movement: little movement, main function is transfer of weigh between the axial and lower appendicular skeletons.
Sacroiliac joint: Articulation
- Formed by the irregular articular facets of the ilium and the sacrum.
- The upper 1/3 is a syndesmosis
- The lower 2/3 is articular cartilage
Sacroiliac joint: Ligaments
- Has a capsule (due to its synovial element)
- Interosseous sacroiliac ligaments
- Anterior sacroiliac ligaments
- Posterior sacroiliac ligaments
- Iliolumbar ligaments
- Sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments
Sacroliac joint: Relations
- Anterior: Internal and external iliac veins and arteries join, ureters, lumbosacral trunk and obturator nerve, piriformis attaches to the anterior capsule
- Posterior: sciatic nerve
- Superior: iliolumbar ligaments
- Inferior: Greater sciatic foramen
- Lateral: ilium
- Medial: sacral alar
Sacroiliac joint: Neurovasculature
Arterial:
- Iliolumbar
- Superior gluteal
- Superior lateral sacral arteries
Venous: same named veins
Innervation: Branches of the lumbar and sacral plexus
Sacroiliac joint: Variant
Accessory sacroiliac joints
Pubic symphyisis
The pubic symphysis is a midline secondary cartilaginous joint between the articular surfaces of the pubic bodies
Movement: minimal shift and rotation, may widen during pregnancy and child birth
Pubic symphysis: Gross anatomy
- Wedge-shaped fibrocartilaginous interpubic disc situated between two layers of hyaline cartilage which line the articular sufaces of the pubis
- Width narrows with age from 10 to 3mm
Pubic Symphysis: Ligaments
- Superior and inferior pubic ligaments
- Anterior and posterior pubic ligaments
- Suspensory ligament of the penis
- Pubocervical ligament
Pubic symphysis: Muscles
- Adductor longus and brevis
- Rectus abdominis and pyramidalis
Symphysis pubis: Relations
Anterior – proximal penile/clitoral shafts
Inferior – Urethra, deep dorsal vein of the penis/clitoris
Posterior – Bladder, retropubic fat, Prostate and prostate venous plexus
Pubic symphysis: Neurovasculature
Blood supply:
Obturator and inferior epigastric arteries
Innervation:
Pudendal nerve
Levator ani: Description
The lavator ani also known as the muscular pelvic diaphragm is the musculotendinous sheet that forms the majority of the pelvis floor.
Function: supports the pelvic viscera and aided in urinary and faecal continence
Levator ani: Gross anatomy
Pubococcygeus:
- From the inner surface of the pubis merging medially to form the perineal body
Iliococcygeus:
- From the inner tip of the coccyx to the ischial spine.
Puborectalis:
- From the body of the pubis forming a sling around the rectum
- Coccygeus is not formally part of lavatory ani however it is an important element of the pelvic floor. It is between the sacrospinous ligament/ischial spine and the lateral border of the coccyx and sacrum.
Levator ani: Neurovasculature
Arterial supply:
- Inferior gluteal artery
Venous drainage:
- Inferior gluteal veins
Innervation:
- Pudendal nerve (internal surface)
- Branches of S3,4 (external surface)
Levator ani: Variant
- Thinning or aplasia of one side is common ~50%
Piriformis: Description
The piriformis muscle is a muscle of the gluteal region
Gross anatomy:
Flat muscle, pyramidal in shape
Piriformis: Gross anatomy
Flat muscle, pyramidal in shape
Origin: Sacrum
Course: exits the pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen
Insertion: Greater trochanter of the femur
Piriformis: Neurovasculature
Arterial supply: Superior and inferior gluteal arteries, lateral sacral artery
Innervation: Nerve to piriformis (sacral plexus)
Lymphatics:
- Internal iliac
Piriformis: Relations
Structures passing through the greater sciatic foramen pass above or below the piriformis:
Passing above:
- Superior gluteal nerve and vessels
Passing below (PIN PINS):
- Posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh
- Inferior gluteal vessels and nerves
- Nerve to quadratus femoris
- Pudendal nerve
- Internal pudendal vessels
- Nerve to obturator internus
- Sciatic nerve
Piriformis: variants
- Fusion with gluteal muscles
- Pierced by the fibular nerve
Psoas muscle: Description
The psoas major muscle is on the muscle of the posterior abdominal wall.
Location: Posterior the retroperitoneum in the iliopsoas compartment
Action: lateral flexion of the trunk, stabilisation and flexion of the hip
Psoas muscle: Gross anatomy
Enclosed by the psoas fascia.
Fuses with the iliacus muscle to form the iliopsoas.
Passes through the retro-inguinal space
Origin: vertebral bodies, discs and transverse processes of T12 to L5
Insertion: Lesser trochanter of the femur
Psoas muscle: Neurovasculature
Innervation: L1-L3 nerve roots
Arterial supply: Lumbar, iliolumbar, deep circumflex iliac, external iliac and femoral arteries
Venous: Same named veins
Lymphatics: Para-aortic
Psoas muscle: Variants
Asymmetry of the psoas muscle
Psoas minor muscle
Inguinal ligament: Description
The inguinal ligament is a ligament that marks the transition from the pelvis to the lower limb
Function: Support of the inferior aspect of the anterior abdominal wall, allows the passage of structures from the pelvis to the superficial anterior pelvis
Inguinal ligaments: Gross anatomy
Formed from a thickening of the lower border of the aponeurosis of the external oblique. Extends from the anterior superior iliac spine to the pubic tubercle.
Some fibres attach elsewhere:
- Superior pubic ramus – Lacunar ligament
- Pecten pubis – pectineal ligament
- Crossing the midline – reflected inguinal ligament
The upper surface gives origin to the external spermatic fascia
The ligament is continuous with the fascia lata of the thigh.
Also forms the posterior wall of the inguinal canal
Inguinal ligament: Relations
Anterior: Superficial epigastric arteries
Posterior: Retroinguinal space, femoral artery, vein and nerve, iliopsoas
Lateral: iliac wing, circumflex iliac vessels
Medial: Pubic symphysis
Inguinal ligament: Neurovasculature
Arterial:
Superficial and inferior epigastric arteries
Superficial circumflex iliac arteries
Venous:
Superficial and inferior epigastric veins draining into the femoral system
Lymphatics:
Superficial iliac nodes
Innervation:
Iliohypogastric nerves
Sacrospinous ligament: Gross anatomy
Triangular in shape
Attachments: The base is attached to the anterior sacrum (S2-S4) and the apex is attached to the ischial spine.
Sacrospinous ligament: Relations
- Anterior: coccygeus
- Posterior Sacrotuberous ligament
- Superior: forms the lower border of the greater sciatic foramen
- Inferior: Forms the superior border of the lesser sciatic foramen
Sacrotuberous ligament
Gross anatomy:
Also triangular in shape
Attachments: Broad origin from the sacrum and coccyx, apex inserts into the medial aspect of the ischial tuberosity with fibres extending to the ischial ramus called the falciform ligament
Provides extensive insertion of the gluteus maximus muscle
Sacrotuberous ligament: Relations
Forms the medial boundary of the greater sciatic foramen
Forms the posterior boundary of the lesser sciatic foramen
Anterior division of internal iliac: Description
The internal iliac artery is the primary blood supply to the pelvis, pelvic viscera, external genitals, perineum, buttocks and medial thigh
Anterior division of internal iliac artery: Gross anatomy
Origin: The bifurcation of the common iliac artery at the level of the pelvic brim
Course: Posteromedial toward the greater sciatic foramen.
Termination: Divides into the anterior and posterior division just prior to the greater sciatic foramen
Branches of the anterior division of internal iliac artery
Rule of 3’s: 3 bladder, 3 muscular, 3 female
ISO POG MUV
- Superior vesicular
- Inferior vesicular
- Obliterated umbilical
- Inferior gluteal
- Obturator
- Internal pudendal
- Middle rectal
- Uterine
- Vaginal
Anterior division of internal iliac artery: Variants
- Persistent sciatic artery
- Obturator artery origin from the external iliac
Posterior division of internal iliac artery: Gross anatomy
Origin: The internal iliac artery divides into anterior and posterior divisions at the superior border of the greater sciatic foramen
Course: Posterior towards the great sciatic foramen
Posterior division of internal iliac artery: Branches
Iliolumbar artery – with lumbar and ilial branches – ilium, iliacus, L5/S1 foramen
Lateral sacral artery – with superior and inferior branches – supplies the sacrum and piriformis
Superior gluteal artery – superficial and deep braches – supplies the gluteal muscles
Posterior division of internal iliac artery: Variants
- Persistent sciatic artery
- Superior and inferior branches of the lateral sacral origin directly from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery
- Superior gluteal may arise directly from the internal iliac
Venous drainage of the left testis: Description
The venous drainage of the testis and the epididymis is via the pampiniform plexus to the testicular veins.
Functions: return of deoxygenated blood, themoregulation of the testis.
Venous drainage of the tesis: Gross anatomy
The pampiniform plexus is a venous network of approximately 10 veins. The network surrounds the testicular artery in the spermatic cord and lies anterior to the ductus deferens.
The pampiniform plexus ascends to form four veins at the level of the superficial inguinal ring. Forming a single testicular vein at the level of the deep inguinal ring. It ascends through the inguinal canal within the spermatic cord.
Testicular veins
Course: The testicular veins ascend in the retroperitoneum on the psoas major muscle.
Tributaries: in addition to the pampiniform plexus there are multiple small tributaries from the retroperitoneal, abdominal wall and renal capsular veins.
Termination: The left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein, the right testicular vein drains into the inferior vena cava at the level of ~L2
Tersticular vein variants
The right testicular vein drains into the right renal vein
Duplication is common
Sacral plexus
Sacral plexus (2010)
The sacral plexus is formed by the anterior rami of the L4 to S4 and its branches.
Function: Innervation of the pelvis, perineum and lower limb
Branches of the sacral plexus
Sacral plexus forms on the anterior belly of the piriformis from the s1 to s4 nerve roots
SLIP DSP
- Superior gluteal nerve (L4-S1)
- Lumbosacral trunk (L4-L5)
- Inferior gluteal nerve (L5 – S2)
- Posterior femoral cutaneous (S1 -3)
- Direct branches to muscles – nerve to piriformis, nerve to obturator internus, nerve to quadratus femoris, nerves to the gemelli
- Sciatic (L4-S3)
- Pudendal (S2-S4)
Sacral plexus: Relations
- Anteromedial: common iliac artery and vein, ureter
- Anterior: lateral sacral artery and vein
Sacral plexus: Variants
- Common peroneal and tibial parts of the sciatic nerve fail to unite and course into the lower limb separately
- Additional caudal nerve root contribution to the sacral plexus
Pudendal N: Gross anatomy
Origin: S 2- 4
Course: Through the greater sciatic foramen, back through the lesser sciatic foramen
Runs along the wall of the obturator internus, in the pudendal canal
Terminates into braches for the skin and muscle of the peritoneum
Pudendal N: Innervates
- External anal sphincter
- External urethral sphincter
- Skin of perineum
Lymphatic drainage of the uterus and ovaries
The lymphatic drain of the uterus and ovaries generally follows with blood supply to these organs.