Pelvis Anatomy (General)

Question 1

What type of joint is the sacroiliac joint?

Answer 1

Synovial plane joint

Question 2

What type of joint is the pubic symphysis?

Answer 2

Secondary cartilaginous joint

Question 3

What structures pass through the greater sciatic foramen?

Answer 3

Piriformis muscle
Sciatic nerve
Gluteal nerves
Pudendal nerve
Gluteal arteries and veins
Pudendal artery and vein

Question 4

What structures pass through the obturator foramen?

Answer 4

Obturator nerve
Obturator artery
Obturator vein

Question 5

What structures pass through the less sciatic foramen?

Answer 5

Obturator internus tendon
Internal pudendal vessels
Pudendal nerve
Nerve to obturator internus

Question 6

List the structures which make up the pelvic inlet

Answer 6

Sacral promontory
Ala (wing) of sacrum
Arcuate line of ilium
Pecten pubis
Pubic tubercle
Pubic crest
Pubic symphysis

Question 7

List the structures which make up the pelvic outlet

Answer 7

Inferior margin of pubic symphysis
Inferior rami of pubis
Sacrotuberous ligaments (laterally)
Tip of the coccyx (posteriorly)

Question 8

Which muscle lines the lateral walls of the pelvic cavity?

Answer 8

Obturator internus

Question 9

Which muscle makes up the posterior pelvic wall?

Answer 9

Coccygeus

Question 10

List the muscles which make up the pelvic floor

Answer 10

Levator ani
 - Puborectalis
 - Pubococcygeus
 - Iliococcygeus
Coccygeus

Question 11

What innervates levator ani?

Answer 11

Ventral rami of S3 and S4

Perineal branch of pudendal nerve

Question 12

What innervates coccygeus?

Answer 12

Ventral rami of S4 and S5

Question 13

Which three pelvic arteries branch off the abdominal aorta? At which vertebral levels do they arise?

Answer 13

Gonadal arteries: L2
Superior rectal artery (terminal continuation of the inferior mesenteric artery, which arises at L3)
Medial sacral artery: L4

Question 14

Which three arteries are branches of the posterior trunk of the internal iliac artery?

Answer 14

Iliolumbar artery
Lateral sacral artery
Superior gluteal artery

Question 15

At what vertebral level does the abdominal aorta birfucate?

Answer 15

L4

Question 16

Which artery is a continuation of the uterine artery in females?

Answer 16

Vaginal artery

Question 17

In males, which artery supplies the prostate and seminal vesicles?

Answer 17

Inferior vesical artery

Question 18

Which two veins drain into the common iliac vein rather than the internal iliac vein?

Answer 18

Iliolumbar vein

Middle sacral vein

Question 19

At which vertebral level do the common iliac veins become the IVC?

Answer 19

L5

Question 20

Which artery supplies the perineum?

Answer 20

Internal pudendal artery

Question 21

List the four main nerves formed by the sacral plexus and give their nerve roots

Answer 21

Sciatic nerve - L4-S3
Pudendal nerve - S2-S4
Superior gluteal nerve - L4-S1
Inferior gluteal nerve - L5-S2

Question 22

What is the root of the obturator nerve?

Answer 22

Anterior rami of L2-L4 (part of the lumbar plexus)

Question 23

Which bony landmark is used when performing a pudendal nerve block during labour?

Answer 23

Ischial spine

Question 24

Which area is drained by the external iliac lymph nodes?

Answer 24

Superior anterior pelvic area

Question 25

Which areas are drained by the internal iliac lymph nodes?

Answer 25

Gluteal region
Deep perineum
Inferior pelvic viscera

Question 26

Which area is drained by the sacral lymph nodes?

Answer 26

Inferior posterior pelvic organs

Question 27

Which three main groups of lymph nodes drain into the common iliac lymph nodes?

Answer 27

External iliac lymph nodes
Internal iliac lymph nodes
Sacral lymph nodes

Question 28

Which nerves give sympathetic innervation to the pelvic organs?

Answer 28

Sympathetic trunk

Hypogastric nerve

Question 29

Which nerves give parasympathetic innervation to the pelvic organs?

Answer 29

Pelvic splanchnic nerves