Pelvic cavity

Pelvic cavity
Details
Lymph Primarily internal iliac lymph nodes
Identifiers
Latin Cavitas pelvis
Dorlands
/Elsevier		 c_16/12220544
TA A01.1.00.052
A10.1.00.002
FMA 9738

Anatomical terminology

Male pelvis.
Female pelvis.

The pelvic cavity is a body cavity that is bounded by the bones of the pelvis. Its oblique roof is the pelvic inlet (the superior opening of the pelvis). Its lower boundary is the pelvic floor.

The pelvic cavity primarily contains reproductive organs, the urinary bladder, the pelvic colon, and the rectum. The rectum is placed at the back of the pelvis, in the curve of the sacrum and coccyx; the bladder is in front, behind the pubic symphysis. In the female, the uterus and vagina occupy the interval between these viscera. The pelvic cavity also contains major arteries, veins, muscles, and nerves. These structures have to work together in a little crowded space. They can be affected by many different diseases and by many drugs in many different ways. One part may impact upon another, for example constipation may overload the rectum and compress the urinary bladder, or childbirth might damage the pudendal nerves and later lead to anal weakness.

Borders

Pelvis

The pelvis has an anteroinferior, a posterior, and two lateral pelvic walls; and an inferior pelvic wall, also called the pelvic floor.[1][2] The parietal peritoneum is attached here and to the abdominal wall.[3]

Lesser pelvis

The lesser pelvis (or "true pelvis") is the space enclosed by the pelvic girdle and below the pelvic brim: between the pelvic inlet and the pelvic floor. This cavity is a short, curved canal, deeper on its posterior than on its anterior wall. Some consider this region to be the entirety of the pelvic cavity. Others define the pelvic cavity as the larger space including the greater pelvis, just above the pelvic inlet.

The lesser pelvis is bounded in front and below by the pubic symphysis and the superior rami of the pubes; above and behind, by the sacrum and coccyx; and laterally, by a broad, smooth, quadrangular area of bone, corresponding to the inner surfaces of the body and superior ramus of the ischium, and the part of the ilium below the arcuate line.

roof: pelvic brim[4]    
  posterior: sacrum, coccyx     lateral: obturator internus     anterior: pubic symphysis  
floor: pelvic floor        

The lesser pelvis contains the pelvic colon, rectum, bladder, and some of the sex organs. The rectum is at the back, in the curve of the sacrum and coccyx; the bladder is in front, behind the pubic symphysis. In the female, the uterus and vagina occupy the interval between these viscera.

The pelvic splanchnic nerves arising at S2-S4 are in the lesser pelvis.

Greater pelvis

The greater pelvis (or "false pelvis") is the space enclosed by the pelvic girdle above and in front of the pelvic brim. It is bounded on either side by the ilium; in front it is incomplete, presenting a wide interval between the anterior borders of the ilia, which is filled by the parietes of the abdomen; behind is a deep notch on either side between the ilium and the base of the sacrum.

It is generally considered part of the abdominal cavity (this is why it is sometimes called the false pelvis).[5] Some consider this region part of the pelvic cavity, while others reframe the classification question by calling the combination the abdominopelvic cavity.

The greater pelvis supports the intestines (specifically, the ileum and sigmoid colon), and transmits part of their weight to the anterior wall of the abdomen.

The femoral nerve from L2-L4 is in the greater pelvis, but not in the lesser pelvis.

Ligaments

Ligament From To
broad ligament of the uterus uterusside of pelvis
* mesovarium ovary
* mesosalpinx Fallopian tube broad ligament of the uterus
* mesometrium
cardinal ligament cervix & vaginapelvic wall
ovarian ligament ovary uterus
round ligament of the uterus ovarytravels through inguinal canal, ends at mons pubis
suspensory ligament of the ovary ovarypelvic wall

Measurements

The pelvis can be classified into four main types by measuring the pelvic diameters and conjugates at the pelvic inlet and outlet and as oblique diameters.

Female pelvic cavity
Pelvic measurements[6]
Measurement From To Length
Transverse diameter
(of inlet) 		Between extreme lateral points of pelvic inlet 13.5–14 cm
Oblique diameter I Right sacroiliac joint Left iliopubic eminence 12-12.5 cm
Oblique diameter II Left sacroiliac joint Right iliopubic eminence 11.5–12 cm
Anatomical conjugate
(true conjugate) 		Pubic symphysis Promontory ~12 cm
Obstetric conjugate Retropubic eminence
(posterior surface
of symphysis) 		Promontory >10 cm
Diagonal conjugate* Inferior pubic ligament Promontory 11.5–12 cm
Straight conjugate Lower border of symphysis Tip of coccyx 9.5–10 cm
Median conjugate Lower border of symphysis Lower border of sacrum 11.5 cm
Transverse diameter
(of outlet) 		Between ischial tuberosities 10–11 cm
Interspinous distance Between anterior superior iliac spines 26 cm
(female)
Intercristal distance Between furthest lateral points of iliac crest 29 cm
(female)
External conjugate Spinous process of fifth lumbar vertebra Upper edge of symphysis ~20 cm
Intertrochanteric distance Between femurs 31 cm
*Because the true conjugate can not be measured directly it is derived from the diagonal conjugate which is measured through the vagina.

Arteries

Nerves

Additional images

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ↑ Moore, Keith L. et al. (2010) Clinically Oriented Anatomy 6th Ed, ch.3 Pelvis and perineum, p.339
  2. ↑ Richard S. Snell Clinical Anatomy By Regions, Pelvic cavity p.242
  3. ↑ Tank, P. (2013) Grants Dissector 15th ed., ch.4 The abdomen, p.99
  4. ↑ "Anatomy of the Female Pelvis - D. El-Mowafi". Retrieved 2007-12-03.
  5. ↑ Drake et al. (2009) Grays Anatomy for Students, 2nd Edition, ch.5 Pelvis and perineum - general description, p.406
  6. ↑ Platzer, Werner (2004). Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Vol. 1: Locomotor System (5th ed.). Thieme. p. 190. ISBN 3-13-533305-1.

External links

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