Week 1: GA overview of pelvis and perineum

Question 1

What separates the pelvic and abdominal cavities?

Answer 1

plane of the pelvic inlet

-spans sacral promontory and top of pubic symphysis

Question 2

Define perineum

Answer 2

• small region inferior to pelvic diaphragm that contains external genitalia, erectile bodies, and skeletal muscles controlling erection, orgasm, defecation and micturition
• pelvic diaphragm is bowl shaped, made of several muscles.

Question 3

Two pouches in female pelvis

Answer 3

-Rectouterine pouch (pouch of douglas)
-vesicouterine pouch
Lined by the reflection of the peritoneum over the bladder, uterus, and anterior surface of the rectum

Question 4

Define broad ligaments and components

Answer 4

• peritoneal reflection over the uterus extended laterally, each broad ligament enclosing an ovary, ovarian ligament, uterine tube, round ligament
• 3 mini mesenteries: Mesovarium (enclosing ovary), mesometrium, mesosalpinx (enclosing uterine tube)

Question 5

Peritoneal reflection associated with male pelvic viscera

Answer 5

-forms rectovesical pouch

Question 6

Structures involved in the emission and ejaculation pathway

Answer 6

1. Emission: from tail of epididymis to prostatic urethra. Sympathetic innervation.
   - vas deferens
   - seminal vesicles
   - prostate
   - prostatic urethra
2. Ejaculation: from prostatic urethra to external urethral meatus. Somatic innervation.

Question 7

Innervation into the pelvic cavity: sympathetics

Answer 7

Sympathetics

• from T12 to L2 via lumbar splanchnic (symp/pre, VS pain)
• superior hypogastric plexus (symp/mixed, VS pain): synapse on mini ganglia
• hypogastric nerves (symp/post, VS pain)
• Inferior hypogastric plexuses (symp/post, VS pain)