Anatomy Flashcards
(172 cards)
What are the functions of the bony pelvis
Support of the upper body when sitting and standing
Transfers weight from single vertebral column to bilateral femurs
Attachment for muscles of locomotion and abdominal wall
Attachment for external genitalia
Protection of pelvic organs, their blood & nerve supplies, their venous and lymphatic drainage
Passage for childbirth
Which bones form the bony pelvis
2 hip bones - made up of ilium, ischium and pubis
Sacrum
Coccyx
What forms the sub-pubic angle
The joins of the two pubic bones
Creates an arch which creates the angle
What forms the pelvic inlet
sacral promontory
ilium
superior pubic ramus
pubic symphysis
What forms the pelvic outlet
pubic symphysis ischiopubic ramus ischial tuberosities sacrotuberous ligaments coccyx
Where is the pelvic cavity found
Sits within bony pelvis between pelvis inlet and pelvic floor
Continuous with the abdominal cavity above
What is found in the pelvic cavity
The pelvic organs and supporting tissues
Where can you palpate the ischial spines
On internal examination of a female
At the 4 and 8 o’clock positions
Used to measure station in labour
Which parts of the pelvis are palpable
On deep palpation can feel pubic symphysis and tubercle
Iliac crests are palpable
Ischial tuberosity can be felt when sitting down
Ischial spines palpable internally
What joints are found in the pelvis
Sacroiliac joints - synovial
Hip joint - synovial
Pubic symphysis - secondary cartilaginous
What happens to the pelvic ligaments in pregnancy
They relax
This is due to the hormones - relaxin
Name the two main ligaments of the pelvis
Sacrotuberous ligament (sacrum to ischial tuberosity) Sacrospinous ligament (sacrum to ischial spine)
What are the functions of the pelvic ligaments
Help to stabilise pelvis joint during weight bearing
Ensure the sacrum isn’t pushed superiorly when weight is transferred vertically - jumping etc
Describe the relationship between the pelvic ligaments and the sciatic foramen
The 2 ligaments divide it into the greater and lesser sciatic foramen (important for passage of nerves/vessels into lower limb/perineum)
Describe the structure and contents of the obturator foramen
It is entirely covered by ligament except for tiny area that has obturator canal
The obturator nerve and vessels pass through here to supply the medial thigh
What is the main concern with a fractured pelvis
The potential damage to the structures held within it - can lead to life threatening haemorrhage
less concern about the bones themselves
The pelvis usually fractures in multiple places - true or false
True
Bony pelvis is a ring, so must fracture in multiple places (minimum 2)
Or it is combined with joint dislocation
Which blood vessels can be damaged in pelvic trauma
External and internal iliac artery/veins with their branches
If damaged this can cause a life threatening haemorrhage - lot of blood in the pelvis
List the differences between the male and female pelvis
Female has bigger openings (inlet and outlet)
Pubic arch and subpubic angle much bigger in female
Pelvic cavity is more shallow in women
Female is more rounded and male is more love heart
All to prep for childbirth
What is meant by moulding of the foetal skull
When the bones are able to move over one another to allow the head to pass in labour
What are the fontanels
2 diamond shaped areas - anterior and posterior - which are gaps between the skull bones
Just covered by a membrane - called the soft spot
Also have mastoid and sphenoid ones that are less clinically relevant
What is the vertex of the skull
Seen in the foetal skull
Diamond shaped area between the2 parietal eminences (bulges) and the anterior and posterior fontanelles
Describe the dimeters of the foetal skulls
The occipital frontal dimeter is the longest
Skull is longer than it is wide
Which diameter of the female pelvis is greatest
Transverse diameter in female greater than AP diameter