Pelvic Anatomy and Fascia Quiz

42 Questions

What is the pelvic cavity a continuation of?

Abdominal cavity

What is the perineal region?

The area of the trunk between the thighs and the buttocks

What is the superior boundary of the pelvic cavity?

Pelvic inlet

What lies in the same vertical plane in the anatomical position?

Anterior superior iliac spine and the anterior aspect of the pubis

What is the pelvic diaphragm inferior to?

Perineum

Which type of tissue is the retropubic and retrorectal spaces primarily composed of?

Loose areolar (fatty) tissue

What is the function of the hypogastric sheath?

Gives passage to vessels and nerves to the pelvic viscera

What are the parts of the endopelvic fascia that have a fibrous consistency often described as?

Fascial condensations

Which structures does the hypogastric sheath give passage to?

Vessels, nerves, ureters, and ductus deferens

What are the retropubic and retrorectal spaces primarily accommodating?

Expansion of the urinary bladder and rectal ampulla

Which structure is covered by the female peritoneum but not the male peritoneum?

Uterus

What is the primary purpose of the female pelvis adaptations?

To facilitate childbirth

What are the primary joints of the pelvis?

Sacro-iliac joints and pubic symphysis

Which pelvic structure is responsible for transmitting the weight of the body to the hip bones?

Sacro-iliac joints

What is the narrowest distance for the baby's head to pass through during delivery called?

Obstetrical conjugate

What is the primary function of the sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments in the sacroiliac joint?

To resist movement in the sacroiliac joint

What is the composition of the sacrococcygeal joint?

Fibrocartilage and ligaments

What effect do increased levels of sex hormones and the hormone relaxin have on pelvic joints during pregnancy?

They cause relaxation of pelvic joints and ligaments

What is the primary function of the pubic symphysis?

To act as a secondary cartilaginous joint formed by the union of the bodies of the pubic bones

What primarily forms the antero-inferior pelvic wall?

The bodies and rami of the pubic bones

What is the function of the levator ani muscle?

Supporting the uterus and maintaining fecal continence

Where does the piriformis muscle attach to?

Femur

What is the function of the pelvic fascia?

Connective tissue between the membranous peritoneum and the muscular pelvic walls and floor

What forms a muscular bed for the sacral plexus?

Piriformis muscles

What is the role of the tendinous arch of pelvic fascia?

Running from the pubis to the sacrum along the pelvic floor adjacent to the viscera

What forms the sharp ridge arcuate line of the ilium?

Superior ramus of the pubis

What defines the subpubic angle in the female bony pelvis?

The angle between the index finger and extended thumb

What forms the anterior part of the acetabulum in the hip bone?

Superior pubic ramus

What is the main function of the pelvic girdle?

Transfer the weight of the upper body from the axial to the lower appendicular skeleton

Which bones form the bony pelvis in mature individuals?

Right and left hip bones, and sacrum

What forms the pelvic inlet?

Superior margin of the pubic symphysis, arcuate line of the ilium, sacral promontory

Which bone forms the posterior part of the acetabulum and the inferior boundary of the obturator foramen?

Ischium

What is the primary function of the pubic arch?

Conjoins the ischiopubic rami at the pubic symphysis

Where is the greater pelvis located?

Superior to the pelvic inlet

What structures are contained in the lesser pelvis?

Urinary bladder and reproductive organs

Where does the musculophrenic artery descend along?

Costal margin

Which artery runs parallel to the inguinal ligament?

Femoral artery

Which artery descends in the rectus sheath deep to rectus abdominis?

Internal thoracic artery

Where does the external iliac artery run deep to?

Rectus abdominis

Which artery continues beyond the ribs to descend in the abdominal wall between internal oblique and transversus abdominis?

Abdominal aorta

Which artery runs in the superficial fascia toward the umbilicus?

Superficial epigastric artery

Which artery runs on the deep aspect of the anterior abdominal wall, parallel to the inguinal ligament?

Deep circumflex iliac artery

Study Notes

Pelvic Anatomy and Fascia

Obturator internus muscles converge posteriorly from the lesser pelvis, exit through the lesser sciatic foramen, and attach to the femur.
Medial surfaces of obturator internus muscles are covered by obturator fascia, which provides attachment for the levator ani (pelvic diaphragm).
Piriformis muscles leave the lesser pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen to attach to the femur and form a muscular bed for the sacral plexus.
The pelvic floor consists of the levator ani and coccygeus muscles and their respective fascias, forming a dynamic floor for supporting the abdominopelvic viscera.
Levator ani consists of three parts: puborectalis, pubococcygeus, and iliococcygeus, and plays a major role in maintaining fecal continence.
The levator ani can resist increased intra-abdominal pressure during forced expiration, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, and trunk movements.
It also has important functions in the voluntary control of urination, fecal continence, and support of the uterus.
Pelvic fascia is connective tissue between the membranous peritoneum and the muscular pelvic walls and floor not occupied by pelvic organs.
Parietal pelvic fascia lines the internal aspect of the pelvic muscles and covers the surfaces of obturator internus, piriformis, coccygeus, levator ani, and part of the urethral sphincter muscles.
Visceral pelvic fascia directly ensheathes the pelvic organs and forms the adventitial layer of each.
The tendinous arch of pelvic fascia is a continuous bilateral band running from the pubis to the sacrum along the pelvic floor adjacent to the viscera.
The endopelvic fascia is extraperitoneal or subperitoneal connective tissue remaining between and continuous with the parietal and visceral membranous layers.

Anatomy of the Pelvic Girdle

The pelvic inlet is formed by the superior margin of the pubic symphysis, the arcuate line of the ilium, and the sacral promontory.
The pelvic outlet is bounded by the inferior margin of the pubic symphysis, the ischial tuberosities, and the tip of the coccyx.
The pelvic girdle transfers the weight of the upper body to the lower skeleton, withstands body weight forces, and protects pelvic viscera.
The pelvic girdle is formed by the hip bones and the sacrum, and in females, it has a wider and shallower structure compared to males.
The ilium is the superior, fan-shaped part of the hip bone, forming the acetabulum where the head of the femur articulates.
The ischium forms the posterior part of the acetabulum and the inferior boundary of the obturator foramen, and has the ischial tuberosity and spine.
The pubis has superior and inferior pubic rami, forming the anterior part of the acetabulum and the inferior boundary of the obturator foramen.
The pubic arch is formed by the ischiopubic rami conjoined at the pubic symphysis, and the subpubic angle differs between males and females.
The bony pelvis is divided into greater and lesser pelves, with the greater pelvis housing abdominal viscera and the lesser pelvis containing pelvic viscera.
The greater pelvis is superior to the pelvic inlet, while the lesser pelvis is between the pelvic inlet and outlet, bounded by the hip bones, sacrum, and coccyx.
The lesser pelvis contains urinary bladder and reproductive organs and is limited inferiorly by the musculomembranous pelvic diaphragm.
The pelvic girdle serves essential functions in weight transfer, support, and protection, and its structure varies between genders.

Test your knowledge of pelvic anatomy and fascia with this informative quiz. Learn about the muscles, fascia, and their roles in supporting the pelvic floor and abdominopelvic viscera.

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