ia, 
The term posterior false (or peritoneal) ligaments is often applied to the some- 
what variable crescentic folds of peritoneum which bound the entrance to the 
recto-vesical pouch on each side, and which often become continuous across the 
middle line, behind the posterior border of the bladder and the vasa deferentia. They 
represent the folds of Douglas in the female, and are to be looked upon as con- 
1100 UROGENITAL SYSTEM. 
Urachus 
Pubic spine 
— me. Bladder 
wok o\ ; | rdder 
Obliterated hypogastric artery 
Peetineal eminence 
RS > ——==,, 
/ by 
(iS \ 
/ &, Deep epigastric 
ce artery 
) 
/ __ Pliea vesical 
. _______—_____ transversa 
-—— Vas deferens 
~ Vesical artery 
heres iets ee Uneter 
Se 
Colon —7 
= Ureter 
Iliac vessels 
Sacral promontory 
Cut edge of peritoneum 
Fic. 748.— VIEW LOOKING INTO THE MALE PELVIS FROM ABOVE AND SOMEWHAT BEHIND. 
From a specimen in which the bladder was firmly contracted and contained but a small amount of fluid. The 
paravesical fossa is seen on each side of the bladder. The deep peritoneal pouch in front of the rectum 
is bounded by marked crescentic folds, which meet together some distance behind the posterior 
border of the bladder. 
nexions of the vasa deferentia rather than of the bladder. The folds are seen in 
Figs. 748 and 749. 
In the female the peritoneum is reflected from the upper surface of the bladder 
posteriorly on to the anterior aspect of the uterus. 
The peritoneum covering the upper surface of the empty or partly distended bladder 
often exhibits a transversely-disposed fold or wrinkle, to which the term plica vesicalis 
transversa has been applied. This fold, when well developed, can be traced on to the 
side wall of the pelvis, where it traverses the fossa paravesicalis, and in some cases it is 
found to cross the pelvic brim and to be directed towards the internal abdominal ring 
(Figs. 748 and 749). 
Fixation of the Bladder.— When the fibrous cord of the urachus (ligamentum 
wnbilicale medium), which binds the bladder apex to the anterior abdominal wall 
and the peritoneal folds, already described as the false ligaments, are severed, the 
bladder is easily moved al yout, except in its lower and basal parts. The lower fixed 
part is chiefly held in place by processes of the pelvic fascia, continuous with those 
forming the ‘capsule of the prostate. The fascial connexions constitute the true _ 
