Pelvic Cavity Terminology

Question 1

Location of pelvic cavity

Answer 1

inf. portion of abdominopelvic cavity; bounded by the bones of the pelvis

Question 2

Pelvic cavity primarily contains?

Answer 2

• reproductive organs
• urinary bladder
• part of large intestine
• rectum

Question 3

female reproductive organs

Answer 3

ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina

Question 4

male reproductive organs

Answer 4

prostate, ductus, deferens

not part of: testes, penis

Question 5

perineal region

Answer 5

• area of the trunk between the thighs & buttocks
• extending from pubis to coccyx
• term “perineum” in obstetrics and gynecology is generally limited to the area between the anal and vaginal orifices

Question 6

Boundaries of the pelvic cavity

Answer 6

pelvic inlet (superior pelvic aperture; false pelvis)
pelvic outlet (inferior pelvic aperture; true pelvis)
coccyx
pubic symphysis

Question 7

linea terminalis

Answer 7

an oblique ridge on the inner surface of the ilium (sup. pelvic aperture).
***separates true from false pelvis

Question 8

5 parts of linea terminals

Answer 8

1. promontory
2. ala of the sacrum
3. medial border of the ilium
4. pectineal line
5. pubic crest

Question 9

Pelvic outlet

Answer 9

aka inferior pelvic aperture

-extends from pubic symphysis to tip of coccyx

Question 10

pelvic (hip) girdle

Answer 10

• each coxal (hip) bone consists of 3 bones that fuse together
  1. ilium
  2. pubis
  3. ischium

Question 11

pubic symphysis

Answer 11

where the 2 coxal bones are joined anteriorly by fibrocartilage

Question 12

sacroiliac joints

Answer 12

coxal bones joined posteriorly by the sacrum to form these joints

Question 13

Articulations of pelvic cavity

Answer 13

ant.—> pubic symphysis

post—>sacroiliac joints

Question 14

major landmarks of pelvic cavity

Answer 14

acetabulum
obturator foramen
pelvic brim

Question 15

The ilium

Answer 15

• the largest of 3 parts of the coxal bones
• major site for muscle attachments
• consists of a sup. ala and inf. body which forms the acetabulum (the socket for the head of the femur)

Question 16

major landmarks for the ilium

Answer 16

iliac crest
great sciatic notch
auricular surface
arcuate line

Question 17

The ischium

Answer 17

• inf. & post. part of the hip bone

- most prominent feature (ischial tuberosity): part that meets the chair when you are sitting

Question 18

major landmarks of the ischium

Answer 18

ischial tuberosity, body, rams, ischial spine, lesser sciatic notch, obturator foramen (post. half)

Question 19

the pubis

Answer 19

• inf. & ant. part of the hip bone

- 2 pubic bones articulate at the pubic symphysis

Question 20

major landmarks of the pubis

Answer 20

body/pubic crest, sup. ramps, inf. ramps and pubic tubercle

Question 21

False and true pelves

Answer 21

false=greater pelves located above the pelvic brim

true=lesser pelves located below the pelvic brim

Question 22

pelvic brim

Answer 22

• boundary that the pelvic is divided into to generate sup. and inf. portions.
• the arcuate line (part of the linea terminals) determines this boundary
• IN FEMALES, NO muscles crosstie pelvic brim because that would block the pathway for childbirth
• pelic brim extends from promontory of the sacrum, arcuate line of the ilium, pectineal line (pectin of pubis) & pubic crest

Question 23

False pelvis

Answer 23

• is bordered by: lumbar wall posteriorly, upper hip bone portions laterally, and abdominal wall anteriorly.
• has organs of the lower abdomen (except when bladder is full)
• contains uterus, ovaries, uterine tubes

Question 24

True pelvis

Answer 24

bony pelvis inferior to the pelvic brim, has an inlet, an outlet and a cavity

Question 25

male pelves

Answer 25

- larger & heavier - inlet smaller & heart-shaped - pubic arch <90 degrees

Question 26

females pelves

Answer 26

- wider & shallower - arch >90 degrees - more space in true pelvis (roomier for child-bearing) - inlet more oval & rounded - sacrum wider & curves more sharply posteriorly - sacral promontory is flatter - larger outlet

Question 27

Types of pelves

Answer 27

are defined by the pelvic outlet

Question 28

Gynaecoid pelvis

Answer 28

round-shaped normal-female 41.4%

Question 29

Android pelvis

Answer 29

- heart-shaped - in a woman my present hazards to normal delivery of a baby - 32.5%

Question 30

Anthropoid pelvis

Answer 30

egg-shaped | 23.5%

Question 31

platypelloid pelvis

Answer 31

oval-shaped | 2.6%

Question 32

2 main ligaments that stabilize the pelvis

Answer 32

1. sacrospinous ligament 2. sacrotuberous ligament - both found posteriorly - the 2 ligaments define the boundaries of the greater & lesser sciatic notch - important nerves, blood vessels & muscles pass through these foramina

Question 33

anterior sacroiliac ligaments

Answer 33

- found ant. & post. | - strong ligaments are necessary to hold the hip bone to the sacrum

Question 34

Iliolumbar ligament

Answer 34

5th lumbar vertebrae also has a strong tie w/ the ilium

Question 35

Arteries of the pelvis

Answer 35

1. internal iliac artery 2. superior rectal artery 3. common iliac artery 4. external iliac artery

Question 36

internal iliac artery

Answer 36

- all (But one) arteries branch from this artery - crosses the pelvic brim to enter the pelvis - the branches of the internal iliac artery constitute the major blood supply to the perineum - branches from the common iliac arteries

Question 37

superior rectal artery

Answer 37

- the exception | - it is a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery

Question 38

L & R common iliac arteries

Answer 38

- the abdominal aorta ends by birfurcating at L4, to for the left and right common iliac arteries - they then bifurcate again just above the level of the pelvic inlet to form an internal iliac and external iliac artery

Question 39

external iliac artery

Answer 39

- passes under the inguinal ligament into the thigh - its branches constitute the major arterial blood supply to the lower limb - branches off from the common iliac arteries

Question 40

veins of the pelvis

Answer 40

venous drainage of the pelvis parallels the pattern of the arterial blood supply

Question 41

pelvic cavity and perineum blood drainage

Answer 41

drains into the internal iliac veins which then drain into the common iliac veins which then drain into the inf. vena cava.

Question 42

upper part of the rectum blood drainage

Answer 42

will drain into the portal vein by way of the superior rectal and inferior mesenteric veins

Question 43

ovaries blood drainage

Answer 43

drain by way of ovarian veins into the inf. vena cava or renal vein

Question 44

Pelvic nerves

Answer 44

"lumbosacral plexus"

Question 45

sacral plexus

Answer 45

- arises from spinal nerve L4-S4 - lies caudal to the lumbar plexus - mostly post. structures (some lateral)

Question 46

lumbar plexus

Answer 46

- mainly femoral nerve (w/others) - arises from L1-L4 - lies w/in the psoas major muscle - mostly ant. structures via the femoral nerve