Pelvis Exam 3
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1. pelvic brim or pelvic inlet: pectineal line of pubis, arcuate line
of ilium, & sacral promontory
2. Greater pelvis (or false pelvis): lower part of abdominal cavity;
superior to pelvic inlet
3. Lesser pelvis (or true pelvis): actual pelvis; inferior to pelvic
inlet & superior to pelvic outlet (space closed by pelvic
diaphragm)
4. What kind of joint is the Sacroiliac joint?: synovial joint
5. What kind of joint is the Lumbosacral joint?: secondary
cartilaginous (fibrocartilaginous) joint with IV disc
6. What kind of joint is the Sacrococcygeal joint?: secondary
cartilaginous (fibrocartilaginous) joint with IV disc
7. What kind of joint is the Pubic symphysis joint?: secondary
cartilaginous (fibrocartilaginous) joint
8. Function and connections of the Sacrotuberous &
Sacrospinous joints: a. help prevent anteroinferior
displacement of superior sacrum
b. convert greater & lesser sciatic notches into greater &
lesser sciatic
foramina
Sacrospinous ligament - sacrum to ischial spine
Sacrotuberous ligament - sacrum to ischial tuberosity
9. The pelvis differences in terms of sex: 1. pelvic inlet: females
rounded/oval; males heart-shaped
2. pelvic canal: females short with parallel walls; males long
and funnel-shaped
3. ischial tuberosities and spines: females everted; males not
everted
4. greater sciatic notch: females broader; males narrower
5. pubic arch & subpubic angle: females broader (usually ≥
90˚); males narrower
(usually ≤ 70˚)
6. sacrum: females relatively short and broad; males relatively
long and narrow
10. obturator internus (lateral muscular wall): arises within lesser
pelvis (passes through lesser sciatic foramen) and attaches to
femur's greater trochanter
11. obturator membrane: lines obturator internus muscle
(membrane forms tendinous arch medially)
12. piriformis (posterior muscular wall): 1. attaches to sacrum
within lesser pelvis (passes through greater sciatic foramen)
and attaches to femur's greater trochanter
2. "bed" for sacral nerve plexus
13. pelvic diaphragm (muscular floor) function: functions to
support viscera (particularly when increased intraabdominal
pressure) and aids voluntary control of urination of fecal
continence
14. What makes up the pelvic diaphragm?: Levator ani +
coccygeus
15. What makes up the Levator ani?: (medial to lateral):
• Puborectalis - muscular sling arising from pubis; maintains
fecal continence; This muscle is sometimes treated as part of
the pubococcygeus
• Pubococcygeus - arises from pubis & tendinous arch,
attaching to coccyx
• Iliococcygeus - arises from tendinous arch & ischial spine
and blends with pubococcygeus
16. Coccygeus: (= ischiococcygeus) - ischial spine to
coccygeus/sacrum
17. What is the function, pathway (males and females), arterial
supply, innervation of the ureters: a. = retroperitoneal
muscular tubes transporting urine from kidneys to
posterosuperior bladder
b. enter bladder obliquely, forming flap valves so muscular
contractions of
bladder act as sphincters preventing urinary reflux into ureters
c. FEMALES: ureters pass medial to uterine arteries' origins
d. MALES: ductus deferentes rest between ureters and
peritoneum
e. Arterial supply: via nearby arteries (in pelvis = uterine in
females, inferior vesicular in males)
f. Innervation: via nearby autonomic plexuses (renal, aortic,
superior and inferior hypogastric)
18. What is the position of the bladder in adults and children?: •
Adults: empty bladder rests in lesser pelvis; full may extend to
umbilicus
• Children: empty bladder may rest in abdomen (even when
empty)
19. What are the parts of the bladder?: • Apex - anterosuperior
aspect
• Fundus - posterior wall of bladder
• Body - area between apex and fundus
• Neck - constriction
• Trigone - triangle between ureteric and urethral openings
uvula = projection of trigone visible in older men
20. What is the muscular wall of the bladder?: primarily of
detrusor muscle
21. What is difference of the bladder between males and
females?: e. FEMALES: muscle of bladder's neck continuous
with urethra's muscle
f. MALES: muscle of bladder's neck continuous with prostate's
fibromuscular tissue; muscle fibers form involuntary internal
urethral sphincter (prevents semen from entering bladder)
22. Urethra: muscular tube conveying urine from bladder to
outside world
23. Describe the urethra in females: • descends anterior to vagina
(partly pelvic, partly perineal)
• urine exits via external urethral orifice
• glands exist adjacent to urethra (will discuss in perineum)
24. Describe the urethra in males: • much longer and more
complex than in females
• 2 urethral curves in flaccid penis; 1 in erect penis
25. In males, what are the four parts of the urethra?: Preprostatic
- from neck of bladder to prostate
Prostatic - within prostate; gently curves
Intermediate/Membranous - short, narrow, and least
distensible; passes through external urethral sphincter
Spongy - longest, ending at external urethral orifice of glans
penis
26. What are the specializations of the prostatic urethra?:
Urethral crest - median ridge
Seminal colliculus - rounded eminence
Prostatic utricle - cul-de-sac remnant of uterovaginal canal in
seminal colliculus
Openings of ejaculatory ducts in seminal colliculus (inferior to
prostatic utricle)
Openings of prostatic ducts - lateral to seminal colliculus
27. What are the parts of the reproductive system in females?:
ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, & vagina
28. Ovaries: glands housing & releasing ova
29. What are the four parts of the uterine tubes?: • Infundibulum
- funnel-shaped with fimbrae
• Ampulla - widest and longest
• Isthmus - entering uterine horns
• Uterine part - short segment in uterine wall
30. Of the uterus, what are parts of the body?: o Fundus -
superior to uterine tubes
o Uterine horns - entrance of uterine tubes (obvious on
radiographs)
o Isthmus - constricted region superior to cervix
31. Of the uterus, what are parts of the cervix?: o Internal os -
opening to uterus
o External os - opening to vagina
32. Of the uterus, what is the ovarian ligament?: ovary to uterus
(posteroinferior to uterotubal junction)
33. Of the uterus, what is the round ligament?: (ligamentum
teres) - uterus (anteroinferior to uterotubal junction) to labia
majora
34. Of the uterus, what is the o Broad ligament and its
subdivisions?: o Broad ligament = mesentery of uterus,
subdivisions:
Suspensory ligament - conveys ovarian vessels, lymphatics,
and nerves
Mesovarium - suspends ovary
Mesosalpinx - suspends uterine tube
Mesometrium - suspends most of uterus
35. Describe about the vagina: • = musculomembranous tube
running from cervix to vestibule (so partly in pelvis, partly in
perineum)
• Posterior to urethra and bladder, anterior to rectum
• Compressed via several muscles, these include the external
urethral sphincter & bulbospongiosus
• Superiormost vagina surrounds cervix as anterior, posterior,
and lateral fornices (fornix = singular)
• Innervation:
o Lower ¼ = somatic (deep perineal branch of pudendal)
o Upper ¾ = autonomic
36. What are the parts of the reproductive system in males?:
epididymis, ductus deferentes, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory
ducts, prostate, and bulbourethral glands
37. Ductus deferentes: • = continuation of duct of epididymis
• Ampulla = expansion of ductus deferens
• Joins duct of seminal vesicle to form ejaculatory duct
38. Seminal vesicles: Paired glands secreting thick fluid into
ejaculatory ducts
39. Ejaculatory ducts: • = 2 ducts formed by joining of seminal
vesicle duct and ductus deferens, converging upon the seminal
colliculus of prostatic urethra
• Descends through posterior prostate
40. Prostate: • Accessory gland for male reproduction
• Contains prostatic urethra
• Divided into lobes (anterior, posterior, middle & lateral)
• Prostatic ducts (n= 20-30) empty into prostatic sinuses on
either side of seminal colliculus
41. Bulbourethral glands: • Small glands secreting during sexual arousal
o Semen = a mixture of secretions by the testes, seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands (usually containing sperm)

• Posterolateral to intermediate/membranous urethra

• Ducts open into spongy urethra in bulb of penis

42. Pelvic Fascia: continuation of endoabdominal fascia

1. Parietal - lines walls and floor

2. Visceral - lines pelvic surfaces

43. Extraperitoneal or subperitoneal reflection: technically outside or below the peritoneal cavity; this includes most pelvic viscer
44. Primarily Retroperitonal (PRP) reflection: kidneys, ureters, rectum, anal canal; additionally the male prostate, seminal vesicles, & vas
deferens
45. Intraperitoneal (IP) reflection: uterus, ovaries, uterine tubes
46. Retropubic space (Space of Retzius): behind pubis, accommodates bladder distension
47. Retrorectal space: behind rectum, accommodates rectal expansion
48. Rectovesical pouch: in males, between bladder/prostate & rectum
49. Vesicouterine pouch: in females, between bladder & uterus
50. Rectouterine pouch (Pouch of Douglas): between uterus and rectum
• may be easily accessed via posterior fornix