Vessels, Lymphatics, and Nerves of the Pelvis

Question 1

A woman got a hysterectomy and then they found urine in her abdomen the next day. What was the most likely cause?

Answer 1

Both ureters were damaged when cutting the uterine artery

Question 2

Where does the common iliac artery bifrucate into the internal and external iliac arteries?

Answer 2

At the pelvic brim in front of the SI joint

Question 3

What artery runs along the pelvic brim and passes over the pubic under the inguinal ligament to become the femoral artery?

Answer 3

External iliac artery

Question 4

3 branches off the external iliac artery

Answer 4

Inferior epigastric

Deep circumflex iliac artery

Pubic branch

Question 5

What ligament does the uterine artery and ureter run inside?

Answer 5

Transverse cervical ligament

Question 6

The internal iliac vein is formed by the confluence of companion veins to the branches of the internal iliac artery. (The exception is ___)

The external iliac vein is a continuation of the ____ proximal to the inguinal ligament.

The internal & external iliac veins merge into a ____ at the pelvic brim.

Answer 6

The exception is the iliolumbar artery- there is no iliolumbar vein.

External iliac vein is a continuation of the femoral vein

Internal & external veins merge into a common iliac vein at the pelvic brim.

Question 7

The median sacral vein comes off the

Answer 7

Left common iliac vein

Question 8

Lymphatics from most of pelvic viscera drain to lymph nodes along the internal & external iliac arteries > drain into nodes along the common iliac > drain into lateral aortic or lumbar nodes on aorta > thoracic duct > cisterna chyli

What is the exception?

Answer 8

Recall: The venous drainage of the left testes goes to the left renal vein. Thus, the lymphatic drainage of testes on the right side is lower than the left side.

In testicular cancer of the left testes, the lymph nodes will be much higher up. The lymphatic drainage of each testes thus stays on their respective sides.

Question 9

The pudendal nerve supplies the anal canal, but the _____ nerve supplies the skin of the anal triangle.

Answer 9

Anococcygeal nerve

Question 10

The urinary bladder receives both motor and sensory innervation from…

Answer 10

parasympathetic fibers from pelvic splanchnics (S2-S4)