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ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE FASCIA OF THE ^. 

 PELVIS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE 

 LEVATOR ANL By Peter Thompson, M.D., Senior 

 Demonstrator of Anatomy in the Oivcns College, Manchester. 

 (Plates XII.-XVI.) 



The influence of posture on the muscles of the pelvic outlet, and 

 the special modifications to which they are subject in man, have 

 been described by numerous writers. On the other hand, few 

 observations seem to have been made on the changes in the 

 fasciae associated with them. 



The object of this communication is to direct attention to one 

 or two points in the arrangement of the pelvic fascia in man, 

 and to show that although certain well-marked differences may 

 be noted in comparing the fasciae in the human subject and in 

 lower mammals, these, for the most part, are clearly traceable 

 to the assumption of the upright posture, and to the consequent 

 modifications which are thereby rendered necessary for the sup- 

 port of the pelvic viscera. 



The pelvic fasciae may be conveniently considered in two sets : 

 (1) all the fasciae which form coverings or investments for 

 muscles ; and (2) the fascial layers which, in part, cover and 

 support the viscera. The former of these sets, which we may 

 term the museular set, are named in accordance with their 

 muscular relationships, as for example, obturator fascia, 

 pyriformis fascia, and anal fascia. The second or visceral 

 set comprises all the fascial layers which support and fix the 

 pelvic viscera, and is simply designated the visceral pelvic fascia 

 or fasciffi, though Holl,i taking into account the bony pelvic 

 attachment, employs the term, the pubo-sacral fascia. 



1 Holl, M., " Die Muskeln und Fascien der Beckenausganges. " Von Bardeleben, 

 Handhuch der Anatomic, vii Band, iv Lieferung, Jena, 1897. 



VOL. XXXV. (N.S. vol. XV.)— JAN. 1901. I 



