Anatomy of the reproductive tract Part 1: pelvis and perineum

Question 1

pelvis and perineum

what is the pelvic cavity continuous with and what does it have on the top and bottom borders?

think abdomen for first part

Answer 1

• continuous with abdominal cavity
• has pelvic inlet (top border) and pelvic outlet (bottom border)

Question 2

pelvis and perineum

What is the pelvis split into and give brief description on their anatomical location and what they house

for first part, think of these signs: < and >

for second part, think about where they are compared to pelvic inlet and what they are likely to house based on this

Answer 2

Greater/false pelvis:
- area superior to pelvic inlet
- house most abdominal organs

Lesser/true pelvis:
- area between pelvic inlet and pelvic floor
- house reproductive organs and terminal parts of the urinary and GI system

Question 3

Pelvis and Perineum

what is the perineum and what does it house

think thinks men and women have for second part

Answer 3

• Diamond shaped area inferior to the pelvic floor
• houses external genitalia

Question 4

pelvic girdle

what is the pelvic girdle made up of and what where does the sacrum articulate with the innominate bones?

For first part, think vertebral levels and fused bones
for second part, think name of a joint

Answer 4

Pelvic girdle made up of:
- Sacrum
- Coccyx
- the two innominate bones

Sacrum articulates with the innominate bones at the sacroiliac joints

Question 5

pelvic girdle

how do the innominate (hip) bones articulate?

think about anatomical position and cartilage

Answer 5

• articulate anteriorly at the pubic symphysis

Question 6

Pelvic osteology

what 3 bones make up the innominate (hip) bones?

Answer 6

• Ileum
• Ischium
• Pubis

Question 7

pelvic osteology

what does the ishical tuberosity allow for?

think muscles

Answer 7

allows for muscle attachment

Question 8

Pelvic Wall: ligaments

where do these ligaments extend to, what do they create and what is their unanimous function

• sacrospinous ligament
• sacrotuberous ligament

for second part, think of these signs again: < and >

Answer 8

Sacrospinous ligament:
- extends from sacrum –> ischial spine
- creates the greater sciatic foramen

Sacrotuberous ligament:
- sacrum –> ischial tuberosity
- creates the lesser sciatic foramen

Question 9

pelvic Wall: ligaments

what is the function of the sacrospinous ligament and sacrotuberous ligament?

think stability and upward tilt of something

Answer 9

function of both of them is:
- to stabilise sacrum and sacral leg joints

• to prevent upward tiliting of sacrum

Question 10

Pelvic Floor/Wall

what 2 muscles contribute to the pelvic wall?

Answer 10

• obturator internus
• piriformis

Question 11

Pelvic floor

where does the obturator internus and piriformis exit the pelvic floor and what does the obturator internus attach to?

think foramen for first part

Answer 11

Oburator internus:
- exits via lesser sciatic foramen

• attaches to the femur

Piriformis:
- exits via the greater sciatic foramen

Question 12

Pelvic Floor

what 2 muscles make up the pelvic floor and what are they innervated by

Answer 12

• Levator ani
• coccygeus

they are innervated by anterior rami of spinal nerves S3-S4

Question 13

pelvic floor

what 3 muscles is the Levator ani divided into?

Answer 13

• puborectalis
• Pubococcygeus
• llliococcygeus

Question 14

Perineum

what is the perineum bounded by in general?

think cartilage, rami, ligaments and the last bone in your vetebral column

Answer 14

Bounded by:

• pubic symphysis
• ischiopubic rami
• sacrotuberous ligaments
• coccyx

Question 15

perineum

waht is the perineum bounded by specifically superiorly and inferiorly?

Answer 15

Bounded superiorly by:
- pelvic floor muscles

Bound inferiorly by:
- skin

Question 16

perineum

if an imaginary anatomical line in drawn between the ischial tuberosities, what two triangles are created in the perineum and what would be in both triangles?

Answer 16

Urogenital triangle (Anteriorly):
- contains external genitalia (like penis and scrotum in men)

Anal triangle (Posteriorly):
- contains anal canal opening

Question 17

perineal membrane

what is the perineal membrane and what is it attached to, what triangle does it cover, what does it have attachment points for and what does it hav openings for

for first part, think what type of membrane and for attachment think rami and bone in pelvis

for second part think anterior imaginary triangle

for third part think what differentiates the sexes

for fourth part think about sex organs and also urination

Answer 17

• triangular fibrous membrane attached to the inferior pubic rami and ischia
• covers urogenital triangle (ONLY, doesnt cover anal triangle)
• has attachment points for the roots of external genitalia and associated muscles
• has openings for vagina in women and urethra in both sexes.

Question 18

Perineal membrane

what 2 spaces are created due to the perineal membrane and where are they located in relation to the perineal membrane

think about pouches for the first part

Answer 18

Deep perineal pouch:
- located above perineal membrane and below pelvic floor muscles

Superficial perineal pouch:
- located below the perineal membrane

Question 19

perineal membrane

what connects the pelvic floor muscles with the perineal membrane, where is it found in relation to the perineal membrane and what is its function?

Answer 19

• The Pelvic Body
• it is found on the posterior side of the perineal membrane
• function is to provide pelvic floor support

Question 20

Deep Perineal pouch

waht does the deep perineal pouch house in females and males?

Answer 20

Females:
- urethra
- vagina
- sphincter musculature

Males:
- urethra
- associated sphincter musculature
- bulbourethral glands

Question 21

deep perineal pouch

what do deep transverse perineal muscles do?

Answer 21

help support the perineal body

Question 22

superficial perineal pouch

what 3 things are found in the superficial perineal pouch common to both genders and give 2 examples of each

Answer 22

• pudendal nerve + its branches E.g: perinela nerve, dorsal nerve of clitoris/penis
• erectile tissue E.G. corpora cavernosa and corpus songiosum
• muscle covering erectile tissue E.g ischiocavernosus and bulospongiosus muscles

Question 23

Superficial perineal pouch

what 4 things are found in the superficial perinela pouch that is exclusive to females

Answer 23

• labia majora and labia minora
• crura (corpora cavernosa) of clitoris
• vesitbular (clitoral) bulbs
• greater vestibualr (Bartolin’s) glands

think:
- vaginal lips

• tissue that has a word that sounds similar to the word “corporal” in the vagina
• bulbs that have “vest” in the name and glands that have “vest” in the name

Question 24

superficial perineal pouch

what 4 things found in the superficial perineal pouch that is exclusive to males

think “corporal” tissues in penis, the tube you pee out of, the organ that produces sperm and the skin that encases your balls

Answer 24

• crura (corpora cavernosa) and bulb (corpus spongiosum) of penis
• urethra
• testes
• scrotum

Question 25

Clitoris and Penis

what is 3 similarities and 1 difference between the clitoris and the penis?

for similarities, think the erectile tissue, what innervates the clitoris and penis and via what nerve branch, and what tissue that has a name similar to the word “corporal”

for differences:
- think about the word “sponge” and “corporal” and what females do and dont have

Answer 25

similarities:
- both highly vascular erectile tissues

• both innverated by pudendal nerve via the dorsal nerve branch
• both contain corpora cavernosa

Difference:
- only penis has corpus spongiosum whereas the clitoris has vestibular bulbs