410 THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM. 
where it forms a stout membrane concave upwards, continuous mesially with 
the fibrous coats of the rectum and bladder, and enveloping the prostate 
gland and vesiculee seminales. At the front of the pelvis this layer extends 
from the back of 
the pubis, to 
which it is di- 
rectly attached, 
to the neck of 
the bladder and 
prostate gland, 
and gives rise to 
two folds — the 
pubo- prostatic 
ligaments, en- 
ys closing a hollow 
Fat of ischio-rectal fossa ——S_ Sey : (mn eS \ YE between them,— 
2 a) 4 the cavum Retzii. 
The lateral por- 
tion of the vis- 
ceral pelvic fascia 
constitutes the 
recto-vesical 
ILIACUS MUSCLE__|! 
Fascia iliaca Rectum 
Pelvic peritoneum 
Pelvic fascia 
Extra-peritoneal 
tissue 
OBTURATOR INTERNUS 
Parietal (obturator) 
layer of pelvic fascia 
Visceral (recto-vesical) 
layer of pelvie fascia 
Fascial canal (containing | 
pudic artery and nerve 
Anal fascia- 
GLUTEUS MAXIMUS — 
SPHINCTER ANI EXTERNUS ~ 
Fic. 304.—OBLIQUE SECTION ACROSS THE PELVIS, TO SHOW THE DISPOSITION OF i divsaibl 
THE PELVIC Fascia AND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE IscHI0-RecTAL Fossa. 1ayer, LV ISTO Le 
into three parts 
—vesical, rectal, and between these the recto-vesical layer, a partition insinuated 
between the rectum and bladder, and enclosing the vesicule seminales and 
vasa deferentia. This visceral pelvic fascia thus forms a support for the pelvic 
viscera, and at the same time acts as a partition between the pelvic cavity and the 
perineum. It is separated 
from the pelvic cavity by Internal iliac artery ‘a 
the peritoneum and _ the jj 
extra-peritoneal tissue, and 
is in contact with the FC 9 a f 
levator ani on its perineal Sy 
surface. The internal iliac Ys 
vessels and their branches 
lie on the pelvic aspect of 
the fascia, and the parietal 
vessels pierce and are en- 
sheathed by it as they leave 
the pelvis. On the other 
hand the spinal nerves 
(sacral plexus) le outside 
o : Anterior layer ot 
the fascia, with one excep- triangular ligament 
tion. The obturator nerve , Posterior layer of 
. triangular ligament ORIGIN/OM TEVATOREAND 
and artery leave the pelvis Tae at 
Visceral pelvic fascia White line 
through a special hole in the Obturator fascia 
pelvic wall, after traversing 
the extra- peritoneal tissue. 
The pelvie fascia in the female only differs in slight detail from that of the male. 
It encloses the neck of the bladder and vagina instead of the prostate gland, and 
invests the lower part of the neck of the uterus instead of the vesicule seminales. 
Psoas\_ 
: | Parietal pelvic 
FE 7 fascia 
Wesy —-Attachment to 
ischial spine 
White line 
Fra. 305.—THE OUTER WALL OF THE PELVIS (pelvic fascia). 
MUSCLES OF THE PELVIS. 
The pelvic diaphragm consists of several more or less rudimentary muscular 
slips, constituting the levator ani and ischio-coccygeus muscles, which serve to 
uphold the pelvic floor, and are related to the rectum and the prostate gland or 
vagina. 
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