Pelvis Flashcards
the bony pelvis
- the pelvic girdle is the bony structure at the base of the spine which joins lower limbs to axial skeleton
- pelvic cavity bounded by bony pelvis and is an extension of the abdominal cavity
- due to orientation of pelvis, cavity projects backwards (almost at a right angle to abdominal cavity)
what divides the pelvic cavity
pelvic brim (linea terminalis)
greater (false) cavity
- region above pelvic brim
- forms lower part of abdominal cavity
- greater cavity is larger and sits superior to lesser cavity
lesser (true) cavity
- below pelvic brim
- contains pelvic inlet (pelvic brim) and pelvic outlet that is largely closed by the pelvic floor
what is the difference between the pelvic cavity in females and males
pelvic cavity in females forms the birth canal therefore it is wider and more shallow with a larger inlet and outlet than males
- subpubic angle in females >90-100 degrees
- subpubic angle in males 70 degrees
sacroiliac joint
between sacrum and ilium
pubic symphysis
joining right and left pubic bones
the pelvic floor
wide but thin muscular layer that supports the pelvic viscera and forms the inferior border of the abdominopelvic cavity
levator ani
broad muscle group situated on either side of pelvis, main pelvic floor muscle
coccygeus
- muscle that makes up posterior portion of pelvic floor
urogenital hiatus
- U-shaped opening for urethra and vagina
anal aperture
- passage for anal canal
the puborectal sling
- some fibres of levator ani form sling around the rectum
- attaches to pubic bone and wraps posteriorly around rectum forming anorectal flexure
- contraction of puborectal sling keeps rectum closed until defecation
- relaxation allows anorectal flexure to straighten during defecation
- puborectal sling can be damaged during vaginal delivery and can even be torn off from pubic insertion
pelvic peritoneum
forms roof over pelvic cavity – is continuous with parietal peritoneum of abdomen
pouches formed by pelvic peritoneum in females
vesicouterine pouch and rectouterine pouch
vesicouterine pouch
- descends from back of anterior abdominal wall onto upper surface of urinary bladder and then onto anterior surface of uterus
rectouterine pouch
continues over fundus of uterus, down its posterior wall to upper part of posterior vagina, up anterior surface of rectum
pouch formed by pelvic peritoneum in males
rectovesical pouch
rectovesical pouch
descends from back of anterior abdominal wall to superior surface of urinary bladder, passes down posterior surface of bladder and upper ends of seminal vesicles, passes anterior surface of rectum
urinary systems in the pelvis
- ureters descend into pelvic cavity and cross over common iliac arteries (site where renal stones lodge)
- pelvic ureters continue along lateral pelvic wall to enter urinary bladder posteriorly
- in males, site where ureters drain into bladder, vas deferens crosses ureter anteriorly
- in females, each ureter is crossed by uterine artery
sigmoid colon
forms S-shaped loop of variable length, lies under pelvic cavity, ending at middle of sacrum (S3) where it is continuous with the rectum
rectum
follows curvature of sacrum (sacral flexure) before turning posteriorly at anorectal flexure to end at anal canal